SEMINARY – From zero last week to 45 Friday night. The Seminary Bulldogs offense has been hard to figure out all season. In the first round of the 3A State Playoffs, Seminary opened its offense up with a 45-43 win over Franklin County to advance to the second round of the playoffs.

Seminary was held to a mere zero points last week in a 33-0 loss to Tylertown. The team bounced back in a big way off major plays from running back Jammal Booth and four touchdown throws from QB Austin Balthazor.

Booth scored on a nine-yard pass from Balthazor with 3:11 to go in the game that gave Seminary a 45-36 lead. FC attempted a rally but time ran out on the visiting Bulldogs as the team lost a fumble in the last few seconds of the contest.

The home-standing Seminary Bulldogs held a commanding 32-13 lead at halftime. Booth scored two quick touchdowns to put Seminary ahead, and the team never trailed in the game.

Franklin County senior QB Malik Moore put on a dazzling second half air show with a career high 239 yards passing and three touchdowns on one interception.

Moore connected with FC senior playmaker Chris Robinson twice for scores. Robinson played through a sprained ankle, despite being limited in the first half.

FCHS ends the season 6-5 overall. The Bulldogs were under the direction of interim head coach Chris Calcote this season.

Calcote replaced Jim Nowell in August. Nowell replaced former Bulldogs coach Rickey O’Quinn Jr. in March. O’Quinn now serves as head basketball coach of both the girls and boys teams at FC.

Franklin County Superintendent Of Education Ray Carlock and Athletic Director Chris Jordan will help oversee the search for a new Bulldogs football coach. The application deadline has been set for Nov. 15 for the job.