NATCHEZ — If Cathedral thought it’s last four games were tough, Friday’s Region 4-1A contest against undefeated Puckett could be downright impossible.

The Wolves are 46-2 since the start of the 2005 season and have run the table in the region thus far, allowing no more than a 16-point victory.

The Wolves returned five starters on both offense and defense from last season’s 13-1 team that lost to Brooks in the state 1A championship.

Included in those starters is running back Jeremy Palmer.

“He can run them outside with his speed, or he can head up the middle,” said Cathedral coach Craig Beesley. “He’s a strong back. Most of the running backs we’ve faced have been either strong or fast, but he’s got a combination of both.”

Beesley said the Green Wave defense will try to change up its front six to confuse the offensive line and counteract Palmer’s abilities.

On offense, Cathedral will have to use a tactic with which they aren’t too comfortable.

“We’ll probably have to throw it a little bit more than we have been because their defensive front is so big,” Beesley said. “We’ll try to mix it up.”

That means more passes for quarterback Preston Edwards, who completed 16-of-32 passes for 201 yards with three touchdowns and an interception in the Green Wave’s 48-33 loss to Stringer on Oct. 11.

Though those numbers are high, Cathedral’s running game has been the main focus this season.

Beesley said despite the four losses, the Green Wave has played relatively solid.

The only game he feels the team did not show up mentally was in a 44-14 loss to Bogue Chitto.

The Wolves defeated Bogue Chitto 61-12. They also took down Mount Olive, 43-27, and St. Aloysius, 35-7. Both teams defeated Cathedral.

“The kids have to really focus on what’s at hand,” Beesley said. “They’ve been doing a pretty good job of it so far. They know what’s ahead of them.

“We’ve got another good running back coming in next week (from Pisgah), so we’ve got to stay focused.”