NATCHEZ — To head coach Ron Rushing’s liking, the Cathedral Green Wave headed to Starkville Thursday with the upmost subtlety.

Plans to have supporters on hand at the school for a sendoff to the MHSAA Class A State Championship Game against St. Aloysius were nixed. Instead, Green Wave supporters lined alongside U.S. 84, signs in hand, cheering on the players as they rode by on charter busses. Rushing, who is admittedly a big Nick Saban fan, liked the quiet, subtle approach, methodically keeping his team from playing up to a crowd.

“I’m a business guy,” Rushing said. “We’re trying to keep it low key. It’s hard getting high school kids to stay up the whole week. It drains you.”

As the players lined up to get on the bus at noon, Cathedral running back Dee Fleming stood tall, feeling prepared and excited about this morning’s game.

“We’re confident in each other and our coaches,” Fleming said.

His partner in the backfield, Christian Jenkins, echoed his statements.

“Definitely, we’re hopeful it’s not false confidence,” Jenkins said.

While the players boarded the charter bus, Rushing exhaled, gearing up for the biggest game of his coaching career.

“I feel more comfortable than I have all week,” Rushing said. “You won’t believe all of the paperwork and things outside of football that you have to do, and that’s what stresses you out. Last night, I went home and rested with my kids some, and I’m feeling excited now. Craig Beesley just took control of things and took a lot of pressure off of me. He came to me and said, ‘Coach, I’m going to handle all of this.’”

The assistance by Beesley freed Rushing up to dissect the first encounter between Cathedral and St. Aloysius in the first game of the season, and all the games in between. Cathedral won the August game 42-31, but St. Aloysius recorded nearly 10 yards per carry with 239 rushing yards on 24 carries. St. Aloysius’ DeMichael Harris totaled 137 rushing yards and recorded a 79-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Harris led the Flashes in yardage this season with 2,062 rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns.

For the Green Wave, Fleming had one of his biggest games of the season with 183 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. But the game was played on Aug. 22, and if you ask Cathedral players, they will tell you that game means absolutely nothing, as both teams have gotten better.

“That’s the least of our worries,” Fleming said.

Cathedral defensive end Quinton Logan said St. Aloysius’ big offensive line was one of the best he had faced all season long.

“It seems like their offensive line has gotten more dominant too,” Logan said.

Rushing said the team put in new defensive concept for that game, and the unfamiliarity with the schemes was obvious as the game transpired, and Cathedral allowed the Flashes to make big plays offensively. After a season’s worth of adjusting, Rushing feels his team is prepared to turn in a better defensive performance today.

“We really feel like we’ve learned to make adjustments, and how to run to the ball as a team,” Rushing said. “That’s one of the things that has me excited. We don’t turn the ball over on offense, and I like our chances.”

For those unavailable to attend the game in Starkville, the game will be streamed online at www.misshsaa.tv at 11 a.m.