The Franklin County Bulldogs entertain the Columbia WildcatsFriday night at Louie Mullins Memorial Stadium in the opening roundof the Class 3A state football playoffs. Game time is 7 p.m.

In Class 4A playoff action, Mendenhall is at Brookhaven,Lawrence County travels to Wayne County and Northeast Jones visitsSouth Pike .

Class 3A play features Sumrall at Hazlehurst.

In MPSA action, Parklane is at Madison-Ridgeland Academy in aAAA playoff matchup.

Franklin County, coached by Anthony Hart, is9-1 on the season and finished 5-1 in Region 7-3A play. TheBulldogs are the No. 2 seed in the Region 7, runners-up toHazlehurst.

Columbia’s Wildcats (5-5, 4-2) are the No. 3 seed out of Region8.

Last week, Franklin pounded region foe Wilkinson County 35-14while Columbia was whipped 54-8 by Collins.

“They (Columbia) like to really spread the field and throw thefootball a lot which seems to be pretty scary,” said Hart. “Theyhave some good athletes that run and catch the football well. Theyhave a lot of kids who are good skill position players,”

Hart and his Bulldogs have worked all week on being in the rightplace at the right time on defense.

“We have to do a good job of pass coverage,” added Hart. “Beingwhere we need to be at right time. We put a lot of time on it thisweek.”

In Franklin’s win over Wilkinson, Deandrea Cameron led with 11rushes for 102 yards and two touchdowns. Cameron broke the1,000-yard mark to finish the regular season with 1,018 totalyards.

Bulldog quarterback Jasper O’Quinn completed 4 of 6 passes for117 yards and two TDs. Jonathan Brooks caught two passes for 101yards and two TDs.

On defense, Gary Rogers led the Bulldogs with 8 tackles and 2quarterback hurries. Andrew Smith and Marvin Bridges added 7tackles apiece.

Lawrence County, coached by Mike Davis, entersFriday’s Class 4A playoff game as the No. 4 seed in Region 6.Davis’ Cougars (5-5, 2-4) travel to Wayne County to meet theunbeaten No. 1 War Eagles (10-0, 6-0) out of Region 5. Wayne Countyis the defending Class 4A state champ and ranked No. 2 in the APTop 20 Prep Poll.

Last Friday, Lawrence County was stuffed 40-0 by the BrookhavenPanthers (9-1, 6-0) while Wayne County thumped Northeast Jones34-6.

Hazlehurst, coached by Willie Brown, hostsSumrall in 3A playoff action Friday. Brown’s Indians (8-1, 6-0) arethe No. 1 seed in Region 7.

Last week, Hazlehurst crushed Copiah County rival CrystalSprings 34-6 in regular season play.

Sumrall (5-5, 3-3) clinched the No. 4 seed in Region 8 followinga 29-24 victory over Purvis last Friday.

Parklane, coached by Charlie Newlon, enters theMPSA playoffs as the No. 2 seed out of the District 2-AAA Division1. The Pioneers are 7-1 overall and 3-3 in AAA play.

Last Friday, Parklane shut out Silliman, La. , 31-0.

Madison-Ridgeland Academy (9-1, 5-0) pounded Pillow Academy41-14 last week. MRA is the No. 1 seed in the Division 2.

South Pike, coached by Randall Huffman,represents Region 6-4A as the No. 2 seed and entertains No. 3 seedNortheast Jones of Region 5.

The Magnolia-based Eagles (9-1, 5-1) annihilated region foeMcComb 48-6 last Friday. South Pike is ranked No. 11 in the AP PrepPoll.

McComb head coach Ted Milton stepped down as head coach thisweek but will remain on staff as athletic director.