NATCHEZ &8212; Even though Biloxi entered Wednesday&8217;s first-round playoff game against the Division 6 champion Natchez as the Division 8 runner-up, the Indians were actually favored to win the game.

For good reason.

Biloxi made its third playoff appearance in five seasons under head coach Randall Molsbee, while Natchez High was making its postseason debut.

Even though Biloxi earned a 4-0 victory at Tom F. Williams Memorial Stadium to end the Bulldogs&8217; historic season, Natchez coach Dennis Hogue was happy about his team&8217;s performance..

&8220;All week long they&8217;ve talking about Biloxi being favored by double digits,&8221; Hogue said. &8220;We held them to two goals in each half. They were fired up. Excited. They surprised Biloxi, themselves and the fans. It opened a lot of eyes about soccer down here. I couldn&8217;t be more happy.&8221;

Biloxi (15-5-1) kept the ball on Natchez High&8217;s side of the field throughout the game, especially in the first half, but Natchez goalkeeper Jeremy Buckles made several acrobatic saves, including a couple with one hand, to keep the game scoreless.

The Indians finally scored in the 13th minute of the first half on a goal by Allen Ramsey.

&8220;We&8217;ve got a pretty good team,&8221; Molsbee said. &8220;They play well together, and they&8217;re young. They&8217;ve played in rec league together, and that&8217;s why their passing was so crisp.&8221;

Hogue was impressed with Biloxi&8217;s passing in the first half, but perhaps he was stunned at how his defense and the play of Buckles kept the Bulldogs in the game.

&8220;Buckles was amazing,&8221; Hogue said. &8220;Miscommunication on defense gave them one goal. The other three, they had to work for them.&8221;

Natchez High had just one shot on goal in the first half, and Marcus Johnson&8217;s shot off a direct kick was saved by Indians goalkeeper Blayze Kraft.

Then with 11:40 to go in the first half, Micheal Wilson scored on a header off a corner kick that staked the Indians to a 2-0 halftime lead.

Biloxi squandered several oher scoring opportunities at the end of the first half &8212; something that concerned Molsbee.

&8220;I&8217;m not happy with our finishing,&8221; Molsbee said. &8220;We had a lot of missed opportunities. (Jeremy&8217;s) very athletic.&8221;

With the Bulldogs getting just the one scoring opportunity in the first half, Molsbee thought Kraft &8220;looked kind of bored&8221; and put Bryan Grant in goal in the second half. It turned out to be a good idea.

&8220;Their coach made some adjustments at halftime that gave them more opportunities to score,&8221; Molsbee said.

Hogue did his usual switch by inserting Buckles at forward and Marcus Johnson in goal in the second half. That switch, however, didn&8217;t last long.

With 27:20 remaining, Allen Longmiro scored to give the Indians a 3-0 lead. Just over a minute later, Johnson took a knee to his left eye when a Biloxi player was going for the ball, missed it and caught Johnson, who was trying to make the save.

Johnson did not return to the game.

Buckles was put back in at goalkeeper with 9:22 remaining.

Jonathan Sewell received a direct kick from Robert Manning and scored on a header for the game&8217;s final goal.