The Natchez High Bulldogs play what head football coach Elbert &uot;Mo&uot; Lyles describes as an &uot;average ball club&uot; in the Jim Hill Tigers in their homecoming game at 7:30 p.m. today at Bulldog Stadium.

The game is a Division 6-5A matchup. Natchez comes into the game at 1-5 overall and 0-2 in district play while Jim Hill, located in Jackson, is 3-3 overall.

However, the Bulldogs will be without senior running back Roderick Conner, who will probably be out for the rest of the season.

&uot;He broke a small bone in his right leg in the Provine game,&uot; Lyles said. &uot;He had surgery on Tuesday. But he’s in pretty good spirits now.&uot;

Lyles said someone will have to step up at tailback in Conner’s place, though he likely will try several people at the position.

Offensive guard Leonard Campbell, the only senior on the offensive line, will miss the game for personal reasons, Lyles added.

Lyles described this week’s practice as &uot;high intensity.&uot;

&uot;Maybe it has to do with homecoming. The last ball game (against Provine) they played with good intensity.&uot;

Lyles added that the homecoming festivities have not been a distraction for his team.

&uot;The kids are very disciplined,&uot; he said.

Jim Hill runs an I-formation offense and either a 5-2 or a 6-2 defense.

&uot;They’re not a ranked team, but they’re real aggressive,&uot; Lyles said.

Two players on Jim Hill’s offense the Bulldogs need to contain are sophomore quarterback Roderick Allen and senior running back Derrick Edwards, Lyles said.

&uot;Roderick loves to throw the ball, but he’ll run it,&uot; Lyles said. &uot;They like to throw to Derrick out of the backfield, so he’ll be a key player for them.&uot;

Jim Hill’s main defensive player is senior linebacker Jeremy Evans.

&uot;He does a good job of running the defense,&uot; Lyles said. &uot;He does a good job of getting to the outside with his speed.&uot;

Lyles said he won’t make any changes from last week’s game plan.

The key to the game, Lyles said, will be to move the ball on the ground to open up the passing game.

&uot;We need to score and score early,&uot; Lyles said.