NATCHEZ &8212; The games aren&8217;t getting any less important for the Natchez Bulldogs, who need to win the rest of the way out to have a shot at making the playoffs. But at least for this week, the opposition won&8217;t be as tough as it has been lately, when Natchez (5-3) takes on Forest Hill (1-7).

&8220;They are a team that plays hard and they can give you trouble if you don&8217;t get off to a good start, which is something we have had trouble doing in recent weeks,&8221; Coach Lance Reed said. &8220;Focus has been the word of the week during our practices. If we focus, I think things will go well for us, but if we don&8217;t focus and execute, I think we could get ourselves into a bit of trouble.&8221;

Forest Hill employs the use of multiple sets with its base offensive packages being run out of the I-formation. That being said, it is the ability to run a variety of formations that is the reason for concern, according to coach Reed.

&8220;They are pretty balanced, they mix it up on you and try to get your defense confused,&8221; he said.

Forest Hill&8217;s biggest threat offensively is quarterback LeSteven Jackson, who is a dual threat to either run or pass. Forest Hill also has a number of players in the skill positions, capable of scoring. This season nine different players have scored touchdowns for the team, which is something that also concerns Reed.

&8220;They have an athletic quarterback, who throws well and also makes plays with his feet,&8221; Reed said. &8220;In the skill positions they have a lot of guys who are all very athletic and who can all make plays.&8221;

Defensively Forest Hill runs a lot of 4-3 and 4-2-5 formations, which are something the Bulldogs have not seen much of this year.

&8220;We&8217;ve prepared for it and game-planned accordingly and it just comes down to a number of little things that we have to do differently,&8221; Reed said.

Reed said that in the end he feels good about the Bulldog&8217;s chances Friday night provided the team gets out to a good start.

&8220;We just have to get out to a good start and give ourselves a chance,&8221; Reed said. &8220;We can&8217;t afford to have to be fighting back at the end like we have in recent weeks. If we get off to a bad start we&8217;ll put ourselves in a bind.&8221;

Jefferson County at Hazlehurst

Friday&8217;s match-up between Jefferson County (3-5) and Hazlehurst (5-2) features two teams going in different directions.

After wins the last two weeks, Hazlehurst is poised to make a run at a district title and a playoff berth. Last weekend Hazlehurst blew out Bailey 58-0, and the week prior bested Richland 68-28.

Jefferson County on the other hand, can&8217;t seem to catch a break lately, dropping three games in as many weeks.

After leading 16-12 last week against Raymond, the Tigers gave up 26 fourth-quarter points to lose 38-24. The week prior the Tigers were edged out 14-6.

Franklin County at Wilkinson County

This week&8217;s contest between Franklin County (7-1) and Wilkinson County (0-7) will be a battle between the haves and the have nots.

Franklin County has everything going for it at this point in the season and appear poised to make a deep run into the state 3-A playoffs, which begin in a few weeks. The Bulldogs&8217; one loss on the season is the 41-35 heart-breaker the team lost to Natchez in the fourth week of the season. In that game the Bulldogs were up 21-0 before Jason Bruce and his 6-touchdown second half performance left the team wondering what had taken place.

Since then the team has recovered and are currently ranked as high as no. 2 in class 3-A polls.