Undefeated Franklin County is looking to take over first placein the Region 7-3A race. The Meadville-based Bulldogs invadeHazlehurst Friday night to meet the current leading Indians in animportant test for both teams. The game begins at 7:30 p.m.

In other area football action Friday night, Wesson travels toMcLaurin, Magee is at Lawrence County, North Pike visits JeffersonCounty, Jim Hill hosts McComb, Wingfield travels to South Pike andPrentiss is at Crystal Springs.

Hazlehurst (4-1, 3-0) posted a 28-8 Region victory overWilkinson County last week. Coach Willie Brown’s Indians improvedto 3-0 in the Region and 4-1 on the season.

Franklin County (6-0, 2-0), coached by Anthony Hart, enjoyed a45-0 homecoming win over Jefferson County last Friday.

“I feel as though Hazlehurst may be the best team we will facethis season,” said Hart. “They are as good as anybody in the southin our classification. They have lot of size, speed and a schemethat fits them real well.

They have a wide out and an inside linebacker that are goodplayers,” continued Hart. “They don’t have just one standoutrunning back. They have two or three that will give us problems.They have a lot of athleticism and speed. Hazlehurst is the kind ofteam that gets better as the season goes along.”

In the win over Jefferson last Friday, quarterback JasperO’Quinn directed Franklin with 225 all-purpose yards and scored 3touchdowns. O’Quinn also completed 2-of-5 passes for 60 yards.

D.J. Shaw directed the Bulldog defense with 9 tackles.

Both teams put points on the scoreboard. On the season, Franklinhas outscored opponents 260 to 25. Hazlehurst has put up 156 pointsand allowed 66 by their opponents.

Last year, the Bulldogs posted a 29-16 win over the Indians andwon the Region.

Wesson, coached by Tommy Clopton, is coming offa key 33-12 homecoming/Region 6-2A win over archrival Loyd Starlast week.

The Cobras hit the road Friday for a Region test at McLaurinagainst the Tigers.

In last Friday’s win over Loyd Star, Wesson’s Brian Channelldirected the running game with 19 carries for 72 yards and a pairof touchdowns. Blake Brister rushed for 79 yards on 11 carries anda TD.

Defensively, Wesson was led by Bobbie Harris with 14 tackles.Michael Cliburn made 10 stops.

In last year’s game, Wesson nipped McLaurin 44-37.

Lawrence County, coached by Mike Davis, cameback in the second half last week to nail the Jim Hill Tigers33-23. The Monticello-based Cougars (4-2, 2-1) face the challengeof non-division foe Magee tomorrow night.

Magee (5-1, 3-0) dumped Region 6-3A rival Collins 28-20 lastFriday.

Taebyus Smith led Lawrence over Jim Hill last Friday with 19carries for 188 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Last season, Lawrence clipped Magee 32-27.

North Pike, coached by Adam Barron, travel toFayette to meet the Jefferson County Tigers for a Region 7-3A game.The Summit-based Jaguars are coming off a 28-0 shutout to EastMarion last week.

In last season’s contest, Jefferson County slipped past NorthPike 18-17.

McComb, coached by Ted Milton, is looking toget back in the win column Friday when the Tigers (1-5, 1-2) visitRegion 6-4A opponent Jackson Jim Hill. McComb was dumped 52-13 bythe Brookhaven Panthers last Friday.

Jim Hill (2-4, 0-3) fell to Lawrence County last Friday33-23.

In the loss to Brookhaven last Friday, Markie Faust rushed thefootball 14 times for 98 yards and a touchdown. Rushing for 73yards on 23 carries and a TD was Demorse Stewart.

McComb knocked off Jim Hill 34-28 in last year’s matchup.

South Pike, coached by Randall Huffman, remainsranked at No. 7 in the Associated Press Top 20 Prep Poll. LastFriday, the Magnolia-based Eagles whipped the Terry Bulldogs 54-13in Region 6-4A action.

Wingfield (1-5,. 0-2) was stopped 15-0 by Murrah last week.

Last year, South Pike shut out Wingfield 55-0.

Crystal Springs, coached by David Virgil, wonits first game of the season last Friday with a 33-13 Region 6-3Awin over Richland. The Tigers (1-5, 1-2) host division nemesisPrentiss Friday.

Prentiss (5-1, 2-0) is coming off a 29-23 win over Morton.

In last season’s test, Prentiss stomped Crystal Springs39-0.