JACKSON — Against a team that hasn’t lost at home in more than a decade, Cathedral High School committed costly turnovers that aided Jackson Prep in a 49-17 contest.

On the second play of the game, Connor Mire’s pass on a screen play fell into the hands of a Jackson Prep defender and was returned to the end zone, giving the Patriots a 7-0 lead.

“That came after we got a penalty on the first play of the game,” Cathedral head coach Ron Rushing said. “We shot ourselves in the foot. That’s what we talked about all week. You can’t make mistakes against a team like Jackson Prep, because they will hurt you.”

Cathedral answered on its ensuing drive, as Connor Mire connected with Jardarius Anderson on a 37-yard touchdown pass, tying the game. After going down 14-7, Rushing said the Green Wave marched the ball down the field, but another Mire pick-six would tilt the game.

“That was my fault,” Rushing said. “I made a terrible call there. The guy returned it 85 yards for a touchdown. We could’ve folded up right there, but we didn’t.”

Cathedral gave itself another scoring opportunity, and Andrew Beesley finished the drive off with a 3-yard touchdown run on a power read. The scoring play was set up by a 53-yard Dee Fleming run.

“After that, we wore down,” Rushing said. “They were the better team, no doubt about it. When you play a team like that, you have to give yourself a chance to win, though. But you get a lot out of a game like this. I thought we quit working two weeks ago, and we haven’t gotten better.”

In the loss, Mire completed 7-of-15 for 128 yards, while Fleming led the team in rushing with 104 yards on 18 carries. Anderson led the team in receiving with five catches for 90 yards.

James Allen Coley led Cathedral in tackling with eight.

“I take no shame in losing to Jackson Prep,” Rushing said. “They haven’t lost a home game since 2004, and this loss will make us better. I’d much rather play a team like that then play somebody I know we can beat.”

Cathedral (2-1) will look to get back to its winning ways Friday night when it hosts Brookhaven Academy.