NATCHEZ &8212; With a playoff spot already guaranteed, the focus for the Cathedral Green Wave (7-2) in the final week of the regular season is playoff positioning.

When the Green Wave take the field at Mercy Cross (9-1) tonight, more than just another notch in the win column will be at stake, as the winner will have earned the right to host a game in the first round, while the loser will have to play on the road.

&8220;I don&8217;t know how much of an impact it would have in the long run, but anytime you get to host a playoff game that&8217;s a good thing,&8221; coach Ken Beesley said.

On paper, the game sizes up to be a shootout, as both teams average over 30 points per contest and neither team has been shut down offensively all season.

&8220;I don&8217;t think that they&8217;ll be able to shut down our passing game,&8221; Beesley said. &8220;But we&8217;ll need to be able to run the ball some in order to keep them honest.&8221;

While the Green Wave offense is rooted in the passing game, Mercy Cross employs a run-first offense which allows them to churn out yards behind they&8217;re massive offensive line.

&8220;They&8217;re a big physical team,&8221; Beesley said. &8220;I think it&8217;s going to come down to which team is able to impose their will on the other. Whoever has to make adjustments first and go away from their game plan is likely to lose this game.&8221;

Beesley said in addition to execution on offense, the keys to the game will be not turning the ball over, and not allowing Mercy Cross&8217;s backs to break tackles.

Natchez looks to finish the season on a winning note

After starting the year out 4-0 the Natchez High School football team (6-4) has not had many things go it&8217;s way during the second half of the season.

With that said the team is hoping to finish out the season on a high note tonight when they host Hattiesburg (4-6).

&8220;Our group of seniors and their effort have made major contributions to our program,&8221; coach Lance Reed said. &8220;This is their last game in Natchez on our home field and we want to send that group out on top.&8221;

Reed said that during the week he spoke to the team about how quickly high school goes by and that players need to focus on making the most out of every moment.

It won&8217;t hurt that the Bulldogs are playing a Hattiesburg team that has had trouble finding a way to win recently. Over the course of the last three weeks Hattiesburg is 0-3, but that doesn&8217;t mean Reed and the Bulldogs plan on taking the team lightly.

A win could mean that Bulldogs would end the season in a three-way tie for fourth place in Region 3-5A, and thus have an outside shot at making the playoffs.

&8220;Right now we don&8217;t know,&8221; Reed said. &8220;We just want to win the last game and if we have the opportunity to make the playoffs we&8217;ll be happy and if we don&8217;t we&8217;ll still be happy. Our focus right now is just on beating Hattiesburg.&8221;

The Franklin County high school football team (9-1) will take its first step on the road to its quest of winning a state championship when they host Raymond (4-6) tonight at 7 p.m.

On paper the first step looks to be the easiest, as Raymond has failed to win a game during the last two weeks of the season losing to Crystal Springs and Yazoo County.

A win tonight will mean that the Bulldogs face the winner of the Carthage (9-2) and Greene County (5-5) in the second round.