CARRIERE — It was a long night at the office for the Natchez High Bulldogs as they fell to the Pearl River Central Blue Devils 52-7 Friday night in the first round of the MHSAA Class 5A South State Playoffs.

Natchez High was held to just eight first downs and only 174 yards of total offense. Pearl River Central’s defense shut down Bulldogs junior running back Tydarrius Terrell, as well as senior wide receivers Travez Lyles and Malik Byrd.

Terrell was limited to 30 yards on eight carries. He scored the Bulldogs’ only touchdown of the game on a three-yard run with just under four minutes to go in the fourth quarter that kept them from being shut out.

“It just wasn’t our night. I don’t think we played our best game at all,” Natchez High head coach Henry Garner said. “We played well in some spots.”

Pearl River Central (11-1), the Region 4-5A No. 1 seed, scored two touchdowns in the first quarter and never let up. The Blue Devils put up 17 points in the second quarter to take a commanding 31-0 halftime advantage.

“They’re a well-disciplined team. They’re a well-coached team,” Garner said. “They ran the ball well. On defense, they came off the ball. They’re very scrappy. It was nothing surprising. They got the momentum and they kept it going.”

The Blue Devils scored 14 more points in the third quarter to go up 45-0 and added another touchdown in the fourth quarter for a 52-0 lead.

Natchez High sophomore quarterback Chris Scott had a steady but not spectacular performance, completing 15 of 25 passes for 138 yards with one interception. Byrd was held to five catches for 51 yards and Lyles had 37 yards on three catches.

Ernest Woods led the Bulldogs’ defense with eight solo tackles and five assists. Kenan Johnson had six solo tackles and two assists. Shavoke Herrington added six solo tackles and one assist.

Natchez High, the Region 3-5A No. 4 seed, finished its season with an overall record of 4-7.