MEADVILLE – Authorities were searching Lake Okhissa Saturday fora Franklin County man and a child who apparently drowned in anaccident at the lake in the central part of the county.

Details were limited at press time, but Franklin County High Schoolhead football coach Ricky O’Quinn said he was informed that one ofhis former players, Bobby O’Quinn, had drowned around 3 p.m. onSaturday.

“I think he was trying to save someone and drowned, but I don’tknow any specifics, other than they haven’t found his body yet,”said Ricky O’Quinn when contacted late Saturday.

Franklin County Coroner Percy Peeler did not comment on thesituation when contacted late Saturday.

Franklin County Sheriff James Newman could not be reached forcomment before press time. A dispatcher at the sheriff’s departmentconfirmed that officials were at the lake but could not givedetails.

Bobby O’Quinn, 19, a former all-state lineman for Franklin CountyHigh School, was a freshman at Copiah-Lincoln Community College. Hewas a defensive lineman for the Wolves.

“He played exceptionally hard and had a bright future in front ofhim, and we feel for the family,” said Wolves head coach GlennDavis.

Davis said he had heard that Bobby O’Quinn had dived in to try andsave a small child. Additional information regarding the child wasnot available.

“I heard that neither one of them had been found,” saidDavis.

Davis said that the rescue attempt was an example of BobbyO’Quinn’s character.

“He had a big ol’ heart,” he said.