Soccer Dawgs win two district contests, fall to Ridgeland

Franklin County headed toward the varsity boys’ soccer post-season with two regional wins that lifted the Bulldogs to 9-0 overall in Class I District 7 competition.

Also, the Soccer Dawgs fell to Ridgeland, 5-2, for their first loss of the season to the Class 5A two-time state champions.

“Along the way, this team has not waivered,” FC Head Soccer Coach Jeff Long said. “They have continued to push forward despite losing two valuable starters to injuries. Guys have stepped up, played well and have received some valuable experience.”

FC 3, HAZLEHURST 1

In Franklin County’s regular season home finale on Wednesday, Jan. 18, the Soccer Dawgs and Indians battled to a 1-all first-half tie thanks in large part to FC’s Drew Mullins hitting a 40-yard free kick with roughly seven minutes remaining before intermission.

FC scored twice after the mid-game break to claim the 3-1 victory at the Dawg House.

Xavien Felton scored the Soccer Dawgs’ second goal of the night in finishing a Jamari Tolliver free kick in the 62nd minute, and Terrance Fields connected on a penalty kick that resulted from Tolliver being fouled by the Indians in the box.
In the end offensively, Tolliver was credited with a pair of assists for the contest.

Franklin County recorded 26 shots and had 12 shots on goal against Hazlehurst as Tolliver and Xavien Felton both had five shots with the former having three SOG and the latter recording two SOG.

Fields and Kolby Cox each had four shots with three and one shots on goal, respectively. Jaquez Anderson added three shots and one shot on goal as Mason Emfinger collected two shots and one SOG and Mullins had a single shot and as many SOG.

Additionally, Max Turner and Preston Cupit both had one shot apiece for Franklin County.

On defense, the Soccer Dawgs had 80 stops against the Indians with Emfinger and Fields combining for 10 apiece and Chris Carraway gaining nine take-aways — one of which involved breaking up a Hazlehurst shot opportunity in front of an empty net late in the second half.

Others in the line-up and their take-away totals included: Keyundre Felton, eight; Mullins, seven; Cox, Parker Jordan and Xavien Felton, six each; Tolliver, five; Preston Cupit, four; Jaquez Anderson, three; and Turner, Parker Cupit, Kyle Walker, Mason Orr, Peyton Touchstone and Tim Hutto, one apiece.

Goalkeeper Dakota Chisholm helped take the win thanks to four saves he made over the course of 80 minutes in front of the net.

FC 8, BOGUE CHITTO 1

Bogue Chitto scored the first goal of the game played against Franklin County, but it was the Soccer Dawgs who would score eight unanswered goals to claim the mercy-rule shortened win on Tuesday, Jan. 17 at the Dawg House.

FC’s Emfinger and Preston Cupit scored twice each as Tolliver, Cox, Fields and Parker Cupit had one goal apiece in the victory.

Xavien Felton accounted for a trio of assists while Keyundre Felton recorded two and Tolliver had one.

Offensively, the Soccer Dawgs had 30 shots and 17 shots on goal against Bogue Chitto as Emfinger and Fields had four shots and three SOG each.

Xavien Felton and Cox wound up with four shots and two shots on goal each, Carraway had four shots and one SOG and Tolliver and Preston Cupit accounted for three shots and two SOG apiece.

Anderson was credited with three shots and one shot on goal and Parker Cupit had a single shot and SOG.

On defense, the Soccer Dawgs had 69 stops with Carraway and Emfinger setting the tempo with eight take-aways each. Xavien Felton, Preston Cupit and Fields had seven stops each while Mullins, Jordan and Cox were credited with six apiece.

Tolliver and Keyundre Felton had five stops each, Anderson added three and Touchstone finished with one.

Chisholm earned another keeper’s win thanks to three saves versus one surrendered goal from start to finish.

RIDGELAND 5, FC 2

Ridgeland scored three times in the first half and twice more after the mid-game break at home to claim a 5-2 non-district win over Franklin County on Saturday, Jan. 14.

Tolliver and Anderson scored a goal apiece for the Soccer Dawgs in the loss and Jordan earned credit for an assist.

FC was held to 12 shots and five shots on goal with Tolliver setting the pace thanks to four shots and two SOG. Anderson recorded three shots and two shots on goal while Cox had two shots and one SOG.

Xavien Felton had two shots in the game and Fields had one.

Franklin County had 77 defensive stops against Ridgeland with Carraway, Emfinger and Fields having nine each and Mullins, Jordan and Preston Cupit had eight apiece.

Others with take-aways were Xavien Felton and Cox, six each; Tolliver and Anderson, four apiece; Keyundre Felton, three; Touchstone, two; and Orr, one.