NATCHEZ — Despite losing their last two games to the second and third place teams in Region 4-1A, Cathedral’s schedule won’t be getting any easier for the next two weeks.

The Green Wave (3-3) take on fourth-place Stringer (3-2) on Friday, before hosting the No. 1 team in the region, Puckett.

And with three of his top players being held out of practice for injuries, coach Craig Beesley knows there’s a long road ahead.

“The next two weeks are going to be very tough,” he said. “Right now (Stringer is) in fourth place in our district, but a win could move them up to third.”

That’s because Stringer beat No. 3 Bogue Chitto, a team that dominated Cathedral 44-14 on Sept. 26.

Click the following link for the Democrat Sports Watch’s preview of the Oct. 10, 2008 prep football games, featuring Huntington, Trinity
and Vidalia. Watch Democrat Sports Watch now.

Stringer’s losses to Puckett and Mount Olive mean it won’t see first place, but the Red Devils will try to give the Green Wave their fourth consecutive loss.

“Their offensive line averages 275 to 280 pounds per person, and they can move well too,” Beesley said of Stringer’s offense. “They do a lot of trapping, and to be that big and be able to trap is going to be very dangerous for us. Mainly their ground attack will be tough.”

With fullback JEB White, wide receiver Kole Junkin and quarterback Preston Edwards all injured, the Red Devils could be even tougher.

Junkin has been out of practice for two weeks with a pulled muscle. While Beesley said he won’t be able to play the whole game, he is hoping to get Junkin some time.

Edwards injured his hand on Friday. Beesley said he will start the quarterback, but is not sure if he can take all the snaps from center.

“JEB White, both knees are bothering him now,”

Beesley said. “One is the same injury, his right knee. He sprained (his medial collateral ligament) again Friday night. On his left leg he has a deep bruise right above the knee, in his quad.”

Beesley said the three attend practice and watch and listen, but they cannot physically participate.

“The main thing we’re trying to do is keep them in shape,” he said. “When they don’t practice for a while they get out of shape, so we’re trying to keep them as in shape as possible without further injuring them.”

Beesley said he was proud of Cathedral’s defense for holding on in a close 34-28 loss to Mount Olive, but he is trying new things on that side of the ball this week.

The Green Wave had to defend their side of the field the entire third quarter and didn’t give up a point, but with the offense getting only six snaps in that quarter, they were too worn down in the fourth.

“We’re trying to find the right group that we can rotate in and out maybe a little earlier in the game so that we can keep everyone fresh,” Beesley said. “Last Friday just put a lot of strain on our defense, the linebackers and the defensive line. But like I told them last week, as long as we’re in the game in the fourth quarter, especially against a team as good as Mount Olive, that’s all we can ask for.”

Now Beesley will ask them to forget about the losses and start fresh in another big game.

“The mental side of it is so big in high school sports,” he said. “We’re trying to keep these kids focused, not on last week, but on what’s happening Friday night. We’ve had a couple seniors step in, but I’d like to see more of the seniors step up and take a leadership role toward the end of the season.”