The Franklin County High School Bulldogs face perhaps their toughest opponent this season when they travel to Hazlehurst High School to play the top-ranked Indians at 7 p.m. Friday.

Hazlehurst is ranked No. 1 in the Mississippi Associated Press’s MHSAA Class 3A poll, as well as the Clarion-Ledger’s Small Schools Top 10 — Class 3A and below — and MHSAA Class 3A polls.

FCHS coach Trey Woodard said in order for the Bulldogs to pull off the win, they cannot give up big plays and cannot turn the ball over. He also said that the offensive line will need to have a big game against the Indians’ 4-4 defense.

“They are fast,” Woodard said. “They’re going to try to run over the top of us. They have three guys who average over 10 yards a carry, and we’re going to have to stop all of them.”