Franklin County High School scored 21 points over a span of the third and fourth quarters as the Bulldogs held on for a 49-33 homecoming win over the Wesson High School Cobras Friday night in an MHSAA Region 7-3A game.

Franklin County senior athlete De’martre Collins had a big-time performance to lead the way for the Bulldogs. He had 17 carries for 160 yards and four touchdowns, completed 7 of 9 passes for 117 yards, returned a kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown with just five seconds left until halftime, and on defense he had six tackles and one interception.

“He had a pretty good game. He was special tonight,” Bulldogs head coach Trey Woodard said. “The kid made plays. The offensive line did pretty well. Touchdowns are a team effort.”

The Cobras and the Bulldogs swapped touchdowns four consecutive times, making it a 28-26 game with 8:51 remaining in the third quarter.

After that, Franklin County took command of the game. Collins had touchdown runs of 3 yards and 62 yards in the final three minutes of the third quarter and Keonte’ Bee scored on a 20-yard run with 3:41 left in the fourth quarter to go up 49-26. Bee had 19 carries for 149 yards.

Wesson (4-6, 0-4) made it a two-possession game with 3:22 left on Peyton Burns’ 72-yard touchdown pass to Dale Thigpen, but the Cobras could get no closer.

“We knew they would score points. They have some good receivers. They couldn’t run the ball on us,” Woodard said. “We had a lot of guys step up. Cameron Young, Clay Wright at outside linebacker. Kickoff coverage team did a great job tonight.”

Wright finished with 12 tackles while Young had nine tackles and one sack.

Franklin County (4-6, 2-2) plays host to Jefferson County for senior night next Thursday at 7 p.m.

Wilkinson County 42,
Port Gibson 12

WOODVILLE — Wilkinson County High School scored three touchdowns in the first quarter and never looked back as the Wildcats took care of the Port Gibson Blue Waves 42-12 Friday night in MHSAA Region 7-3A action.

“It was a game we felt we needed to win,” Wilkinson County head coach Kenneth Brown said. “It puts in the playoffs.”

Ja’Quorias Stewart threw for 142 yards and three touchdowns on 7-for-12 passing. What Brown liked was the semblance of a running game. Terry Mealey and Terrell Coleman combined for 178 yards on 19 total carries.

“We had a little better running game tonight,” Brown said. “I don’t think we turned the ball over any. Penalties were a little less. We came together and played better than we did last week.”

The Wildcats led Port Gibson 22-0 at the end of the first quarter and 28-0 at halftime. The Blue Waves were down 42-0 after three quarters of play before finding the end zone twice in the final 3:30 of the game.

Wilkinson County (6-4, 3-1) closes out its regular season on the road when it plays at Wesson at 7 p.m. Friday.

Hazlehurst 38,

Jefferson County 0

FAYETTE — Hazlehurst High School’s defense made things miserable for Jefferson County High School quarterback Rah’Kendrick Reynolds in a 38-0 win Friday night in an MHSAA Region 7-3A game.

The number one ranked team in all of MHSAA Class 3A, Hazlehurst played like a legitimate state championship contender. Its defense forced Reynolds to throw two interceptions and held him to just 68 yards on 5-for-14 passing.

The Indians led just 8-0 at the end of the first quarter before scoring two touchdowns in the second quarter for a 22-0 halftime lead. The lead grew to 30-0 in the third quarter.

Reynolds wasn’t the only offensive threat for Jefferson County who was held in check by Hazlehurst’s vaunted defense. Jalen Herrington had just 53 rushing yards on 10 carries.

Jefferson County (3-6, 2-2) plays at Franklin County at 7 p.m. Thursday.