They’re ranked eighth in the state in this week’s Associated Press Class 5A football poll.
They’ve won their first two games, beating a defending state champion and a bigtime rival.
At 2-0, the McComb Tigers are off to their best start since 2006.
But, as head coach Malcolm Jones reminds his team, it’s just the beginning.
“It’s great to be 2-0. It’s good to take care of business,” Jones said. “But we could still go 2-9.”
The Tigers hope to improve their numbers Friday night when they host seemingly their toughest test to date in the Franklin County Bulldogs.
Kickoff is set for 7:30.
The Bulldogs come into Friday night’s game at 1-1. After beating Loyd Star 62-7 on opening night, they were handled at home by Brookhaven 20-0 last week.
Still, Jones knows the Tigers are in for a battle.
“We’re not looking at rankings,” he said. “We’re just looking at a very good football team in Franklin County.”
Thus far, this season has been about overcoming adversity for the Tigers. Two weeks ago, they battled a scrappy Tylertown team, then finally broke open a close game to beat South Pike last week.
“That was the second week we fought adversity,” Jones said. “Before we broke it open (last week), we had to fight to make (South Pike) lay down. We fought adversity to win both games.”
Last season, Franklin County beat McComb at home, 35-14.
This year, the Bulldogs come in with dual quarterback threats Milton Griffin and Jay Davis. The two rely mainly on different ways to get into the end zone.
Griffin, the starter under center for the Bulldogs, is more of a runner. He scored on runs of 8 and 36 yards in Franklin County’s win over Loyd Star.
Davis, meanwhile, is more of a passer, as exhibited by his 55-yard scoring strike to receiver Parnell Shell in the Bulldogs’ season-opening victory.
Jones referred to Davis as “number one” and Griffin as “number two.”
“Number one is more of a passer. He’ll either hand off or pass,” the McComb head coach said.
“Number two will run the option. He’s a sprinter,” Jones added. “They’ll try to get him loose on the ends. If we can stop number two, the game will be over.”
Jones added that he believes Franklin County will run lead options and play action passes — “nothing we haven’t seen before,” he said.
The Tigers’ secondary will again be tested and seems ready for the challenge after junior linebacker Cavellis Luckett’s interception last week against South Pike.
Jones said he expects the Bulldogs to work from a 50 defensive formation, with plenty of slanting.
The Bulldogs, Jones said, will be facing a different McComb team this season.
“They’re fast. They come off the ball well,” Jones said. “We’ll have to execute against that.
“Look at our first game,” Jones added. “We did anything we wanted to do. We ran the ball and we passed the ball. Last week, we needed to pass the ball more and we did. We’re a more balanced team this year. We’ve done a good job at tracking what defenses have given us.”
Jones said he expects a big game from Tigers halfback Deontay Evans.
“He needs to run the ball well this week,” Jones said. “On defense, our whole unit has to have a good game. We don’t need to let them get a yard.”
After sustaining a separated non-throwing (left) shoulder last week, McComb quarterback Lamarvin Ashley was fitted with an orthopaedic sleeve this week and will be ready to play Friday night, Jones said.
