Natchez exploded for another 11-yard gain, and the coach’s smirk revealed enjoyment of what he saw upfront from his offensive line. Still, his presence didn’t wobble, pressing his eyebrows firm together and hurrying up his offense.

Later in the game, defensive coordinator Dan Smith continuously brought pressure, pummeling Wilkinson County’s quarterback Desmond Hunter in the process.

“That quarterback is beat up, coach,” Pete told Smith.

Hunter broke the pocket and scrambled on third down, but was stopped short of the first down marker.

“He could have gotten that first down,” said wide receiver Sidney Davis.

Pete looked back at Davis and acknowledged what Davis had already said.

“Yeah, he could have, but he didn’t want to take that hit,” said Pete, further stressing a tough mentality for his Bulldogs to mirror.

As Pete’s hard-nosed coaching approach drew positive responses from his team, Pete showed genuine care for his players when they went down. Junior defensive lineman Keenan Johnson suffered an ankle injury in the second half, but Johnson was urging the coaching staff to get back in the game.

“Run from here to there,” said Pete, pointing 10 yards away. “I don’t know. You’re running pretty gingerly.”

Pete had Johnson further evaluated by the team doctor.

Pete’s stone cold stare that was delivered to players and coaches who committed mistakes in the game would later be replaced with a big smile and an eruption, as Shavoke Herrington intercepted Hunter and took it to house in the fourth quarter to give Natchez a 26-7 lead.

“Yes!” Pete yelled, jumping up and down, running down the sideline. “Take it! Take it to the house!”

Following the Bulldogs 33-7 win, Pete didn’t stop molding the minds of his players, using any method or situation he could to further preach discipline.

“Show some respect to your alma mater,” said Pete to some of his players who stood in front of the band following the team’s victory. “Y’all need to learn the words, too.”