NATCHEZ — A sure-fire NFL Hall-of-Famer and Super Bowl winning quarterback will be patrolling the sidelines, and a playoff berth will be on the line when Natchez High School hosts Oak Grove High School Friday.

But more important than Brett Favre, who coaches for Oak Grove, or fighting for a playoff spot, the Natchez football team is focused on playing its best game of the season.

“We just have to focus on winning,” head coach Lance Reed said. “The other things we can’t really think about.

“Brett Favre is one of the greatest quarterbacks ever to play the game, and we are excited we have the opportunity to compete against him, but this is bigger than that.”

Natchez quarterback Anthony Robinson said he would also try to ignore the legendary signal-caller on the opposing sideline, even though he knows his performance might be under more of a microscope with a great passing quarterback in the fans’ minds, he said.

“It will be fun, but I can’t get so excited about that,” Robinson said. “I still have got to do my job.”

The Bulldogs are focused for their final home game of the season and are ready to end the three-game losing streak they are currently enduring, Robinson said.

“We still have a chance to make the playoffs, and everybody is focused,” he said. “Everybody is working hard, and even the playing around in the locker room has stopped.”

Oak Grove is on a two-game losing streak itself, but Reed said the visitors would still provide a stiff challenge for the Bulldogs.

Reed said Oak Grove is balanced on offense and very aggressive on defense.

Natchez, Meridian and Oak Grove are all 3-3 in MHSAA Region 3-6A and tied for fourth place. Meridian will face Forest Hill High School Friday night. Brandon and Hattiesburg — both 4-2 in the region and tied for second place — will play each other Friday. There are multiple playoff scenarios in the region, but Natchez has to win to even be a part of the tiebreaker.

Natchez (6-4, 3-3) will host Oak Grove (7-3. 3-3) at 7 p.m. Friday.