Soccer Dawgs stay undefeated through seven games

Franklin County’s varsity boys soccer team picked up two more wins last week by downing both Enterprise-Clarke County, 3-2, and Brookhaven, 2-1, to improve to an unblemished 7-0 mark on the squad’s 2022-2023 campaign.

FC 3, ENTERPRISE 2

The Soccer Dawgs traveled to easternmost Mississippi on Saturday, Dec. 3 to battle Enterprise High School and walked away with a 3-2 victory in the contest.

“It was great to get out of there with the win,” FCHS Head Soccer Coach Jeff Long said after the game. “I’m proud of the boys for maintaining their composure in a hostile environment.

“We need to begin to put teams away by scoring more instead of playing so defensively to hold on for a win. I feel like playing without Zachary Kent (who was sidelined with a leg injury earlier in the week) is going to take some time for our back line to get better organized, and we need to help them out by scoring more goals.”

FC’s Jamari Tolliver scored twice and Jaquez Anderson added another goal to put the visitors on top with those same players along with Xavien Felton collecting one assist each.

Tolliver paced the team with five shots and three shots on goal, Landon Furlow finished with four shots and two SOG and Anderson recorded three shots and two SOG.

Felton was credited with two shots and as many shots on goal while Keyundre Felton, Kolby Cox and Terrence Fields each had one shot in the contest.

Defensively, Fields collected 14 of Franklin County’s 82 defensive stops against Enterprise-Clarke County and Mason Emfinger tallied nine take-aways for the Soccer Dawgs.

Others with defensive stops included: Chris Carraway, Drew Mullins and Preston Cupit, eight each; Xavien Felton and Keyundre Felton, six apiece; Parker Jordan, Furlow and Cox, five each; and Tolliver and Anderson, four apiece.

Goalkeeper Dakota Chisolm had seven saves in front of the net while surrendering two goals to Enterprise — one in the first half and the other after intermission.

FC 2, BROOKHAVEN 1

With a goal each in the first and second halves, Franklin County slipped past previously unbeaten Brookhaven on Thursday, Dec. 1 by a 2-1 margin.

“This was a good win for us as Ole Brook was loaded with talent,” Long said. “They have a lot of players who play on an outside travel team and have steadily improved over the past few years.

“I can’t say enough about Terrence Fields, who in only a year and half has become such a valuable defensive midfielder. He plays at 100 percent for 80 minutes.

“Also, Emfinger stepped up when Kent went down, which was big for us because we cannot replace a player like Zachary. Also, to have a young talent like Anderson is truly a blessing for us. He really stepped up in getting the game winner. His potential is unlimited and he has a bright future.” 

Kent put FC on the scoreboard with a successful 40-yard free kick that found its way into the net early.

Anderson scored late after following up on a Tolliver shot, which hit the crossbar.

Franklin County had 21 shots against Brookhaven with nine shots on goal and was led by both Tolliver and Furlow, who both had five of those shots and two SOG apiece.

Anderson wound up with three shots and two shots on goal with Cox and Xavien Felton each adding three shots with one SOG.

Kent had one shot and one shot on goal while Emfinger finished with a single shot.

Fields paced the Franklin County defense with 12 stops while Kent (before exiting with an injury) and Preston Cupit wound up with nine each.

Among those in the Soccer Dawgs line-up with take-aways were: Mullins, eight; Carraway and Emfinger, seven each; Furlow, six; Xavien Felton and Cox, five apiece; and Keyundre Felton, Parker Jordan and Tolliver and Anderson, four each.
Chisholm recorded 13 saves as FC’s keeper while surrendering a goal on a penalty shot by the Panthers in the 70th minute.

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UPCOMING GAMES

FC’s boys soccer team will be looking to reschedule a game against district opponent Hazlehurst that was cancelled due to severe weather on Tuesday, Nov. 29.

FC was scheduled to face off against another district foe — Wesson — on Tuesday, Dec. 6, but results were not available at press time.

On Thursday, Dec. 8, the Soccer Dawgs will travel to Bogue Chitto for a 7:30 p.m., district contest and will travel to Forest for a non-district matchup at 6:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 9.

The squad will play in two additional district games before the Christmas break — at West Lincoln on Monday, Dec. 12 and at Loyd Star on Thursday, Dec. 15.

Both of those contests will start around 7:15 p.m.