JACKSON &8212; There&8217;s a party in Meadville, and everyone&8217;s invited.

The Franklin County Bulldogs (14-1) used a smothering defense and efficient offense to snuff out the MHSAA Class 3A top-ranked team 23-13 Saturday afternoon for the school&8217;s first state championship.

Sophomore quarterback Jamie Collins stole the show, throwing for 71 yards and two touchdowns, running for 105 more and intercepting two passes on defense. He also intercepted a two-point conversion attempt to ice the game.

Trailing 14-7, the Nettleton Tigers (14-1) were driving for a potential tying score when quarterback Jami Boland dropped back to throw and was picked off in the end zone by Franklin County&8217;s Alex Smith.

Twelve plays later, Collins was in the end zone from six yards out and the Bulldogs held a 21-7 lead with 10:28 to go in the game.

Later in the quarter, Boland was called for intentional grounding in the end zone, giving Franklin County a 23-7 lead.

Things got momentarily interesting late in the game when, while trying to ice the clock, running back Preston Griffith, who carried 17 times for 85 yards on the day, coughed up the ball, which was recovered 32 yards away by the Bulldogs.

The subsequent punt was blocked and returned to the Bulldog seven yard line, and Boland then found Ben McVay for a 7-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 10 with 1:18 remaining.

Collins picked off the two-point conversion attempt, and after Franklin County recovered the onside kick, all that was left was the celebration.

&8220;This was a very important win for the whole community,&8221; said Franklin County head coach Grady McCluskey.

&8220;They got so excited about this team and rallied behind this team. This is our first state title, and I told this team I thought they were destined to win.&8221;

The Bulldogs held the normally potent Tiger offense to just 170 yards of total offense, and picked off Boland four times.

Franklin County racked up 329 yards of total offense, and had several opportunities to score points fall through due to turnovers on downs.

&8220;We were just hitting them,&8221; Collins said.

&8220;We kept after them, we ran the ball and we stopped them.&8221;

&8220;The last couple weeks we&8217;ve been playing the top offenses,&8221; Griffith said.

&8220;Our defense is No. 1, and we showed that.&8221;

The Bulldogs opened the game with an impressive drive, going 61 yards in 12 plays and scoring on a 6-yard pass on fourth-and-five from Collins to Greg Hunt. Jace Carlock added the extra point for a 7-0 lead with 6:22 to go in the opening stanza.

After a few trips inside Tiger territory, Nettleton made the Bulldogs pay late in the half.

A botched punt of eight yards set up Nettleton in good field position, and they took advantage by driving for a touchdown on a one-yard quarterback sneak by Boland with 2:56 to go in the first half. Cody Brownlee added the extra point to tie the game at seven.

The Bulldogs, however, answered back quickly, driving for another touchdown, this time a 13-yard pass from Colllins to Ryne Tutor to build a 14-7 halftime lead.

Following the game, Collins was already focused on next year.

&8220;It feels great to win one, being a sophomore, he said.

&8220;I want to do it again next year.&8221;