Franklin County’s defense 21, Franklin County’s offense 14, McComb 6.
That should be the more correct score of Friday night’s 35-6 Franklin County Bulldog victory over the McComb Tigers.
The Bulldogs (2-0) took advantage of everything the Tiger (0-2) offense gave them, returning two interceptions and a fumble for touchdowns.
The first turnover came on a Jamie Collins interception on a ball that was thrown up for grabs. Collins outjumped the receiver and raced down the sideline untouched for second quarter score.
In the third quarter, DeHendret Collins picked off a pass thrown off Marshall Dexter’s back foot and took it down the sideline for another score.
To start the fourth, running back Mario Smith had trouble getting hold of Dexter’s option pitch, and the linebacker quickly separated him from the ball. Alan Hunt swooped in returned the loose ball 40 yards for the third defensive touchdown of the night.
“Turnovers hurt,” McComb head coach Randy Martin said. “When you turn it over and they score, it hurts more.”
For the Bulldogs, who scored their first two touchdowns off drives that started around midfield, the offense came through in the first half but was missing some execution in the second.
“I’m happy with the win,” Franklin County head coach Trent Hammonds said. “I’m not happy with the intensity we came out with in the second half.”
Not only did the Tigers keep the Bulldogs out of the end zone on offense, Franklin County did a lot to help.
The Bulldogs committed 16 penalties in the game, and three times faced first and more than 20 on their own side of the field.
In the second half, McComb was able to control field position and force Franklin County into longer drives the Bulldogs weren’t able to finish.
“We were able to move the ball. Take the ball and drive it out, but the penalties would keep us from finishing,” Hammonds said.
“We can’t win if we don’t finish drives.”
The penalties put the Bulldogs in obvious passing situations, and Collins went just 1-of-5 in the second half because of it.
On one third quarter possession, the Bulldogs had a first down right outside the 20, but penalties forced them back and three attempts to the end zone didn’t result in a score.
“For a while our defense stayed with them,” Martin said. “That’s a plus for us.”
The two scores from the Bulldog offense came off runs by Alan Hunt and Alex Smith in the first half.
Smith left midway through the third after injuring his shoulder.
Both sides struggled with little things from the limited practice this past week because of Hurricane Gustav. Both coaches hope that’s the reason for so many penalties in Franklin County’s case and the slow first half in McComb’s.
“We had two days practice on pavement — walking through a parking lot,” Hammonds said.
Martin added, “On offense it was tough just on two days.”
Especially with Dexter under center for his second start. The two interceptions combined with two bad option pitches accounted for all of McComb’s turnovers, but Martin said Dexter is finally seeing enough of the offense in game situations to get a better hold on it.
“He can’t see that outside a ballgame,” Martin said. “He sees it and he’s gotten a lot better. He’s doing everything for the first time.”
