Franklin Academy coach Jason Soules can sympathize with Porters Chapel coach Randy Wright about red-zone struggles.

Last week against Tallulah, the Cougars got inside Tallulah Academy’s 20-yard line seven times but managed only 19 points in a 19-7 win.

Two weeks ago at Heidelberg, PCA (1-1) turned the ball over twice inside the red zone and scored only 13 points. The problems resurfaced last week at Central Private when the Eagles were shut out for the first time in three years.

The two struggling offenses meet tonight in the District 4-AA opener at PCA.

&#8220We’ve worked extremely hard this week on our red-zone offense. We’ve got to find a way to get the ball in the end zone,” Wright said.

Soules, who was an assistant at Vancleave High School on the Gulf Coast, said the Cougars (1-1) should have had more points against Tallulah.

&#8220We had over 400 yards rushing and got inside the red zone seven times, but got only 19 points,” Soules said. &#8220We played better than we did against Huntington, but we can’t play that way against Porters Chapel.

&#8220They have better speed and a little more size than Tallulah.”

Huntington beat Franklin 47-14 in the season opener. The Hounds, ironically, come to Vicksburg next week to meet PCA in a non-district game.

&#8220The thing with Huntington is that they had an All-Louisiana quarterback from Ferriday transfer and that kid was unbelievable and I’ve coached 4A public school ball,” Soules said. &#8220We’re still a young football program, just four years old, so that was an experience.

&#8220We’ve got some seniors but they are still understanding what it takes. And we play another team like Porters Chapel who will have the experience factor on us.”

Franklin is a big team keyed by two huge tackles in Scotty Moore and Curtis Smith. Both check in at 6-foot-5 and 300 pounds.

&#8220They are a big, physical team, a lot like Heidelberg,” Wright said. &#8220The two big kids are Division I prospects and double at both offensive and defensive tackle.”