NATCHEZ — It’s been 11 long years since Natchez was in the second round of the MHSAA 5A playoffs.

But it’s only been just over a month since the Bulldogs faced their round-two opponent, Oak Grove.

The Warriors made quick work of the Bulldogs on Oct. 3, scoring 42 points in the first half of an eventual 49-20 win.

Even so, Natchez coach Lance Reed thinks this time things could be different, especially if Oak Grove (11-1, 7-1) is expecting another easy victory.

“We hope they are because we feel like we’re a better team than we were then,” Reed said. “We’ll be better prepared this time around.”

With both teams playing in Region 3, the Warriors and Bulldogs are quite familiar opponents.

Reed said that has helped his team’s preparation.

“We look back over the years and see where we’ve had our struggles versus them, and we’re really preparing to correct those mistakes.”

The Bulldogs are an unlikely visitor to the second round after upsetting Petal in Hattiesburg this past Friday.

With a 7-4 record and three losses in region play, Natchez just squeaked into the postseason but made a big noise coming in.

Petal, by the way, lost to Oak Grove 41-24 earlier this season. The Warriors only loss came to Region 3 champion Meridian, who defeated Natchez 36-10.

“That time, those losses we had, really made us a better team,” Reed said. “They made us focus on the things we weren’t doing well. That’s what happens when we play good teams.”

In the Bulldogs first meeting with Oak Grove, the Warriors scored 14 points in the first quarter and 28 in the second, allowing the Bulldogs only 7 first-half points.

Although Natchez held Oak Grove to just one touchdown in the second half and scored 13 more itself, two intercepted passes by quarterback Javon Washington and a fumble on a kickoff made it hard for the Bulldogs to overcome the hurdle.

Had it not been for the turnovers, the Bulldogs might have had a chance, and Reed said few things will change from the first meeting.

“They’re a spread team like us, and we’re very similar on offense,” he said. “The basic thing is to play with a lot of effort and be ready to come out and take charge.”

Reed said he also hopes fans in the Natchez-Adams County area come out to support the Bulldogs.

It’s been too long since the city’s public school had a playoff.

“It’s an opportunity for the community to come together and root this team on,” he said. “This community needs to come together in a lot of different areas, and football is one good way to start. It’s a way to get us all in one accord.”

The Bulldogs may have had a rough start to the season, and no one may expect them to move to the South State championship next week, but Reed said his team has another idea in mind.

He said making it to the playoffs and getting a win made his players realize they could contend.

“I think that light bulb went off a long time ago,” Reed said. “From films that we watched and even in our losses, we see that we can play with people that we aren’t supposed to beat on paper. A long time ago these kids figured out that they can win if they play with a purpose.”