MONTICELLO – Area football action for the public schools gets anearly start Thursday night when Class 4A Lawrence County entertainsClass 3A Franklin County at Cougar Field. The kickoff is set for 7p.m.

Lawrence County finished the 2002 football season with a 4-7record and reached the playoffs as the No. 4 team out of Region6-4A. Franklin County was 9-2 and made the South Stateplayoffs.

Lawrence County head football coach Trent Hammond said he islooking forward to Thursday night. “I am glad to be playing athome. We hope for a big crowd to come out and support us. We hopeto play a good football game.”

Lawrence returns 10 senior starters for the 2003 season.

Starting Cougar quarterback is senior Casey Williams (6-0, 200.Working in the backfield are Randy Ferdinand (5-7, 205, sr.) atfullback while Chris Jefferson (5-7, 145, jr.) and Donovan Dixon(6-1, 185, sr.) are the wingbacks.

The Lawrence offensive line includes guards Cory Williams (5-6,280, sr.) and Cody Yelverton (5-10, 230), center Phillip Kimble(6-0, 286, sr.), tackles Hugh Hartzog (5-10, 225, jr.) and DionSmith (6-0. 280, jr.), and tight ends Ivan Hillard (6-1, 215. sr.)and Marlon Stanfield (6-1. 180, sr.).

Defensively for Lawrence, Davis Ball (5-8. 180, sr.) is the noseguard. Eric Parker (5-11. 185, jr.) and Kelly Pounds (5-10, 150,so.) start at defensive end. Kentario Hardy (6-2, 200, jr.) andDanny Powell (5-10. 170. so.) are the outside linebackers. JoeSmith (6-0, 195, sr.) and Joe Magee (5-8, 180, sr.) work as insidelinebackers.

Dex Haynes (5-11, 170, sr.) and Tim Young (5-9, 170, sr.) startat the corners for the Cougars. Michael Thompson (6-0, 170, jr.)and J.P. Lewis (6-3, 185, jr.) are at safety.

The team kicker is senior Justin Stamps. Stanfield is thepunter.

“Franklin County looks pretty good,” added Hammond. “They(Bulldogs) are bigger and faster than us. They will be ready toplay. Coach Hart has his teams ready to play.”

Franklin County returns 5 starters to thisyear’s team with 2 being seniors. The Bulldogs graduated 22seniors.

“It is going to be tough,” said Hart of opening the seasonagainst a bigger team. “They could be the best team we will playthis year. It will be tough on us.”

The starting quarterback for Franklin County is senior TommyGibbs (5-11, 190). Playing fullback is Gary Rogers (6-0, 215, fr.).Tailback is Jasper O’Quinn (5-11, 165, jr.). The runningback isDeandrea Cameron (5-10, 165, jr.).

Working on the Bulldog offensive line are Emmanuel Muhammad(6-2, 290, so.) and Chris Brown (6-1, 285, sr.) at tackle. LarryHall (5-10, 250, sr.) and Kyle Tutor (6-0, 260, jr.) are theguards. Jake Buckles (6-0, 275, jr.) starts at center.

Defensively for the Bulldogs, Marcus Tillman (6-4, 245, so.) andDeandre Davis (6-2, 240, jr.) play defensive end. Buckles is thenose guard.

Kenny Green (6-3, 245, sr.) is at tackle for Franklin . D.J.Shaw (6-0, 215, so.) and Casey Hammack (6-0, 195, so.) play insidelinebackers. At outside linebacker are Chris Blackwell (5-11, 190,sr.) and O’Quinn. Jonathan Brooks (5-9, 160, jr.), Zach Thomas(6-4, 190, sr.) and Cameron are the defensive backs.

Blackwell serves as the team kicker and punter.

Game notes: The Cougars and Bulldogs haven’tplayed each other since 1987, when Franklin County won 19-0 atMeadville in the Sept. 4 season opener for both teams. It was thefirst year of consolidation for Lawrence County which was under thedirection of Coach Emanuel Bridges. The Cougars went 7-2 thatseason and Franklin County finished 9-3 under head coach MichaelGoff.