Both Jefferson County and Wilkinson County high schools picked up big wins in their MHSAA Region 7-3A openers last Friday night.

Coming off a much-needed bye week, Jefferson County jumped out to a 30-0 lead and then held on for a 30-24 win over rival Port Gibson to end a three-game losing streak.

Wilkinson County got six touchdown passes from quarterback Ja’Quorias Stewart in a 42-19 victory on the road at Franklin County High School.

The Tigers and the Wildcats take on each other at 7 p.m. Friday in a game with a share of first place with MHSAA Class 3A No. 1 Hazlehurst at stake for the winner.

Friday is also senior night at Wilkinson County.

“We have a large senior class this year,” Wildcats head coach Kenneth Brown said. “We’re up in the teens. Probably 19-20 seniors.”

Jefferson County head coach James Herrington said the play of both Stewart and Tigers quarterback Rah’Kendrick Reynolds could determine the outcome of this game.

“Whichever quarterback manages the game, limits his mistakes and makes the players around him better,” Herrington said.

Brown said that the main challenge Jefferson County presents is that “they’re pretty good-sized.”

“They’re typical Jefferson County, and we’ve got to stop the running game,” he said. “Hopefully we can make them do things they don’t want to do.”

Tigers running back Jalen Herrington will look to have another big game on the ground to keep the Wildcats’ high-powered passing game off the field. In the win over Port Gibson last week, Jalen tallied 193 yards on 15 carries.

“We have to rack up first downs,” coach Herrington said. “Last week, we had 20 first downs against Port Gibson, and we’re going to have to do the same this week.”

Wilkinson County’s offense features a pair of standout receivers in in Travion Jones and Juan Anthony Jr. Anthony Jr. hauled in four touchdown tosses last week, while Jones reeled in a two scores.

“One of them has 13 touchdowns and the other has nine touchdowns,” coach Herrington said. “Their passing game is going to have to be slowed down.”

Brown said the game is very important in terms of keeping the momentum going after wins over Ferriday and Franklin County and staying atop the Region 7-3A standings.

“We want to keep traveling the direction we want to go and not get a setback,” he said. “We want to stay on top of the district.”