NATCHEZ &045; Not that anyone was getting over-the-top impatient, but folks have breathed a little easier this week at Natchez High.

The Bulldogs were able to really improve their play on defense last week, an area that has been one of the biggest thorns in the side of head coach Lance Reed and the new coaching staff. It’s always nice to reap some kind of benefit for hours of hard work, even though the Bulldogs still dropped a 28-6 decision to Picayune for their fourth straight loss.

Those who know realize it was significant progress, and now the Bulldogs have to keep going. They host fourth-ranked Meridian Friday as MHSAA schools enter Week 6.

&uot;That’s what this year is all about,&uot; Reed said. &uot;Going out, playing hard, working on improvement and hopefully getting some wins here and there. They ran the ball for the most part, but we had a few stops here and there. It was a lot of fundamental things we tried to focus in on, and we came into the game trying to execute some of those things.&uot;

The coaching staff juggled the lineup a bit by putting Henry Hedgepeth, who started last year at center, at defensive tackle, but the unit as a whole executed better. The defense did better in playing their assignments and with leverage against the Maroon Tide’s big offensiv linemen.

And this week it may be no different. The Wildcats are undefeated so far thanks in part to a ground game that has been impressive behind running backs Cordera Eason and Derrick Davis.

The Bulldogs may be forced to go without tackle C.J. Wright, who was nursing a sore knee on Wednesday.

&uot;We talked all week for our front guys to play low, play with leverage, shed blocks, play assignment football and tackle,&uot; Reed said. &uot;Meridian is a little more balanced than Picayune, but their specialty is running the ball. It’s another challenge for us, seeing if we can go out there and stop the run. They’re a very talented team.&uot;

The Bulldogs are still trying to find their groove offensively in their four-wide, no-huddle offense. The offense had put up just 19 points in their last three games while being plagued by turnovers and mistakes.

The Bulldogs continue to rotate quarterbacks with Jason Bruce and Riley Trask sharing the snaps, but the passing game has had its ups and downs.

&uot;We’re doing some things good, and some things we’re not doing very good,&uot; Reed said. &uot;Some stuff we have to get better at. We’re not anywhere near where we can be. It’s not a matter of understanding it &045; it’s a matter of doing things the right way.&uot;

Cathedral at Mount Olive

NATCHEZ &045; The schedule has been like this for four seasons: Mize and Mount Olive in consecutive weeks.

No one else in the region does that, but the Green Wave looks at the bright side of it &045; at least the big two are out of the way quickly. Cathedral lost to Mize 51-0 last week and face a tall order this week at Mount Olive but can still contend for a playoff spot in the final five weeks of the season.

&uot;Hopefully we might get a few of our injured people back,&uot; Cathedral head coach Ken Beesley Sr. said. &uot;That might help us at the end of the year. I think everybody should be back by the seventh game. We need to just go out Friday and play as hard as we can play and try to eliminate mistakes.&uot;

The key is not losing anyone to injury or illness, and that’s been easier said than done. Three players are out for the year in Preston Hicks, Chris Rasco and Curtis Maier, and Drew Burns, Jordan Farmer, Justin Johnson and Jesse Morrison won’t play on Friday.

The team will likely have Nick Blain available to play, but Logan Brown will take his place on the sideline after he became dehydrated against Mize.

Jefferson at Franklin

MEADVILLE &045; It’s the biggest game so far for the Tigers, and everyone knows what’s at stake.

But knowing what’s coming and stopping it may be two different things. It’s also the first big game in Region 7-3A for the Bulldogs, who have mauled competition so far this season and may be the clear-cut favorite to win the region.

The Bulldogs have out-scored their last three opponents 153-7.

&uot;They just execute very well,&uot; Jefferson head coach Jeffrey Harness said. &uot;They don’t make many mistakes. That’s the biggest thing &045; execution and the defensive line. They’ve got some big boys. I don’t know where they get them from.&uot;

Hazlehurst at Wilkinson

WOODVILLE &045; The Wildcats could use a win Friday in their homecoming contest as they try to stay in good position early in the 7-3A standings.

The Wildcats are 1-1 so far after opening with a slim win over North Pike. But they also have that rival game with Amite County and a Week 11 contest with Franklin County

to deal with down the line.