MEADVILLE — Wilkinson County High School head coach Kenneth Brown knows that special teams is just as important as offense and defense. And when a certain aspect of that unit gives up long returns, one can understand his frustration.

Such was the case Friday night when the Wildcats took on Franklin County High School in not only the MHSAA Region 7-3A opener for both teams, but also the Bulldogs’ homecoming game.

“We didn’t expect punt returns to hurt us like they did. I felt like defensively, we controlled their offense,” coach Brown said.

Wilkinson County would eventually go on to win the game 36-14, but not without some unexpected drama.

The Wildcats built a 13-0 lead in the first quarter on Tremorrion Mealey’s one-yard touchdown run at the 8:13 mark and Nolan Thompson III’s 64-yard punt return on the last play of the quarter.

Wilkinson County would end up scoring four points off two safeties because of those factors. In fact, Brown said the first safety of that quarter at the 8:10 mark was the turning point of the ball game.

Wilkinson County (5-1, 1-0) hosts Jefferson County High School for homecoming Friday at 7 p.m. It will also be a pivotal Region 7-3A game for both teams. Franklin County (0-7, 0-1) plays at Hazlehurst High School Friday at 7 p.m.

Jefferson County 22,

Port Gibson 12

FAYETTE — Gailrontae Fells threw a touchdown pass and ran for another as the Jefferson County High School Tigers celebrated homecoming by defeating the rival Port Gibson High School Blue Waves 22-12 Friday night in an MHSAA Region 7-3A game. Fells scored on a four-yard run and Jaheime Herrington added the two-point conversion run to give Jefferson County an 8-0 lead with 3:13 left in the first quarter. Herrington scored on an 11-yard run to give the Tigers a 14-0 lead with 10:39 to go in the second quarter.

Port Gibson (1-5, 0-1) got back in the game on a one-yard TD run by D’Marious Hicks and a two-yard scoring run by Tyberious Williams to make it a 14-12 game at halftime. It remained that way until Fells hooked up with Zachary Ford on a 65-yard touchdown pass with 6:58 left in the fourth quarter. Fells added the two-point conversion run give Jefferson County a 10-point cushion.

Domonique Gaines led the Tigers’ ground game with 118 yards on 13 carries. Daron Wright led the defense with 14 tackles.

Jefferson County (4-1, 1-0) travels to Woodville to take on Wilkinson County High School Friday at 7 p.m.