Soccer Dawgs stay unbeaten on season

The Franklin County varsity Soccer Dawgs bagged their latest district win — a 6-0 thumping of West Lincoln — on Thursday, Jan. 5 and is now sporting a 5-0 mark in Region 7 play with roughly two weeks remaining in the 2022-2023 campaign.

The following night at home, FC battled Purvis to a 2-all draw with the Dawgs’ season mark settling at 12-0-2 on the season.

FC 2, PURVIS 2

Franklin County wound up in a 2-all tie with Purvis on Friday, Jan. 6 with Jaquez Anderson and Jamari Tolliver each scoring for the Soccer Dawgs and Tolliver collecting an assist on Anderson’s goal.

FC had 35 shots and 15 shots on goal in the contest with Landon Furlow leading the way with seven shots and three SOG while Terrence Fields and Tolliver ended up with six shots and three SOG.

Kolby Cox and Xavien Felton recorded five shots and two shots on goal apiece. Anderson added four shots and two SOG while Mason Emfinger and Keyundre Felton had a single shot apiece.

As a team, the Soccer Dawgs collected 88 defensive stops with 15 of those coming from Emfinger, 11 by Chris Carraway and 10 thanks to Preston Cupit.

Others with take-aways included: Fields, nine; Cox and Furlow, eight each; Drew Mullins, six; Xavien Felton and Parker Jordan, five apiece; Keyundre Felton and Tolliver, four each; and Anderson, three.

Goalkeeper Dakota Chisholm collected nine total saves for the Soccer Dawgs while surrendering two goals.

“Purvis was loaded with seniors who are talented and they are well coached,” FCHS Head Soccer Coach Jeff Long said. “We played hard, but we just didn’t execute in the box and finish some opportunities that we usually connect on.”

FC 6, West Lincoln 0

Franklin County scored three goals before and after intermission to thump the visiting West Lincoln Bears, 6-0, last week and remained unblemished in district play.

With three of the Soccer Dawgs’ goals under his belt, Xavien Felton earned the hat trick while Anderson, Cox and Furlow also scored in the contest played at the Dawg House.

Tolliver paced FC with three assists against West Lincoln while Furlow recorded two and Mason Orr and Fields accounted for one apiece.

The Soccer Dawgs had 34 shots and 17 shots on goal with Xavien Felton and Furlow combining for seven shots apiece with the former collecting four SOG and the latter recording three.

Fields ended his efforts with four shots and three shots on goal while Anderson and Cox had four shots and two SOG apiece and Tolliver saw four shots and one SOG.

Tim Hutto was credited with two shots and one shot on goal while Preston Cupit had a shot and SOG and Parker Cupit saw a single shot.

There were 76 defensive stops by Franklin County against the Bears with Carraway and Preston Cupit leading the way with eight each. Mullins, Furlow, Emfinger and Fields were credited with seven take-aways apiece.

Among those making stops were: Cox and Jordan, six each; Xavien Felton, four; Tolliver, three; Tim Hutto and Anderson, two apiece; and Caden Tyson, Carson Laird, Drehlen Thomas, Jack Hutto, Josh Foreman, Kyle Walker, Orr, Max Turner and Peyton Touchstone, one each.

Splitting time in front of the net were keepers Alex Scott and Blake Mann, who each had a save apiece and shared in the victory.

“This was a good start to the second half of our season — especially as we get deeper into district play and move closer to the playoffs,” Long said.

“We just need 100 percent dedication and commitment from everyone. If this group decides to collectively dedicate themselves to each other, this team has a good chance to do something special come playoffs time.”