FAYETTE — The Natchez High School football team flirted with dropping its first two games to start the 2012 season.

But a late touchdown run by senior Derrian Johnson lifted the Bulldogs past Jefferson County High School 14-9 Friday night.

“It was a hard-fought game that could have gone either way,” NHS head coach Lance Reed said. “My hat’s off to Jefferson County for playing tough, and we are happy to get away with a victory.”

Johnson finished the game with 151 yards rushing on 21 carries, and the Bulldogs controlled the game on the ground by rushing for 216 total yards. Reed said being able to run the ball was key for NHS.

“Running the ball is definitely an asset for us,” he said. “We’re going to evaluate film now and see what other things we can do.”

The Bulldogs did hit one big play in the passing game when Waldron Mosby connected with Earon Brown on a 60-yard pass. Mosby also scored the Bulldogs’ first touchdown of the game on a 3-yard run.

Reed said he was proud of the way his team bounced back after last week’s loss to Wilkinson County.

“It was huge for us,” he said. “We were down from last week’s loss, and we definitely needed this one.”

Jefferson County was coming into Friday’s game off a 47-0 win at Trinity Episcopal Day School to start the season, and head coach James Herrington said the Tigers just made too many mistakes and had too many missed chances to improve to 2-0.

“Opportunity only knocks once, and when you get the opportunity to make plays and to push a team further (behind), you have to take them, because you may not get those opportunities again.

“We had the chance to make big plays, and we didn’t take it.”

Charles Bates led the NHS defense in holding Jefferson County down long enough for the Bulldogs to get the come-from-behind win. Bates finished with 14 tackles.

NHS led the game after the first quarter after Mosby’s touchdown.

Jefferson County answered in the third quarter with a 35-yard touchdown pass from Rashaad Bradley to Christopher Tyler, and a field goal by Calvin Barnes gave the Tigers the lead.

Johnson’s go-ahead touchdown was scored with just over nine minutes left in the game.

NHS (1-1) will host Ferriday High School next week, and Jefferson County (1-1) will travel to face Port Gibson.