NATCHEZ — Natchez High’s homecoming win was not quite the spanking they would have liked against Wilkinson County on Friday, but the Bulldogs pulled out the 35-14 victory anyway.

Natchez (2-0) had problems stopping the Wildcats’ run game, allowing 244 yards and two scores on the ground.

“We were kind of sticking with what was working for us,” said Wilkinson County coach Elbert “Mo” Lyles. “We were going with leading and misdirection, and they were having a problem picking it up, so we took advantage of that.

But what the Bulldogs’ rushing defense lacked, their passing defense more than made up for with intercepted passes for touchdowns by sophomore linebacker Raymond Williams and senior defensive back Willie Newman.

“We continued to have problems like we have in the past with mistakes and turnovers and things of that nature,” Lyles said. “We’re still having little mistakes, and it’s costing us the opportunity to win.”

Had those two passes by sophomore Brian Montgomery not been picked off, the Wildcats would have been within 7 with half a quarter to go.

The Wilkinson County run game could have scored another touchdown, especially with sophomores Devin Fosselman and Brandon Harton carrying the ball.

Fosselman had 102 yards on 16 carries, and Harton had 104 on 20 touches.

“He’s got the ability,” Lyles said of Fosselman. “I figure if he gets more serious about it, as far as dedication and the work ethic are concerned, there’s no telling how good he could be. As far as his work ethic, he has a lot of room for improvement.”

The Bulldogs scored first on the 72-yard interception return by Newman with 1:12 left in the first quarter, and again on the first drive of the second quarter with his 1-yard carry.

But Fosselman answered with a 15-yard touchdown run just into the end zone toward the end of the half, sending the Bulldogs into the locker room with a bit of panic.

“They (Wilkinson County) did exactly what I thought they would do, and that’s what was disappointing because we didn’t execute the game plan like we were supposed to do,” said Natchez coach Lance Reed. “Up front, those guys were assigned to stop the run, so those guys are going to have to play assignment football.”

But perhaps the most upsetting part of the first half was the amount of turnovers. Aside from the interception for the score, Montgomery threw an interception on the first drive of the game after garnering three first-downs, and Joel Davis ran the ball 35 yards on a fake punt. But Newman fumbled the ball for Natchez on the next play.

The Wildcats also fumbled when the got the ball back, and Fosselman’s touchdown carry was nearly dropped.

The Wildcats (0-3) had 11 penalties for 67.5 yards, and Natchez had 10 for 76.5 yards. Seven of the Bulldogs’ flags came in the second half.

Reed attributed part of the lack of focus to homecoming week festivities amid other distractions.

“Effort-wise, we might have been lacking,” he said. “That was kind of a good testament of what a week off will do.”

The Bulldogs appeared to have scored on a 96-yard kickoff return by senior Wesley Pendleton to open the second half, but a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct brought the flags back.

So Joel Davis ran the ball 19 yards for a touchdown in the next Natchez drive.

Harton answered with a two-yard run for a Wilkinson County 6, but Rico Richardson had a 27-yard run to solidify the win. Williams made it official with his 48-yard pickoff.

The Bulldogs will pick up practice at 10 a.m. today because Reed was not happy with their performance.

“We’re heading into a tough stretch with Franklin County, Meridian and Oak Grove, so were going to have to get better,” he said. “We’re going to have to go back to the drawing board and evaluate this film, see where our errors were and get better and get ready for those big teams.”