NATCHEZ — It was same time, same place for the second week of 7-on-7 football practice Tuesday at Natchez High School between Natchez, Vidalia and Ferriday high schools, this time with a little wrinkle thrown in.

After Natchez took its reps against Ferriday and Vidalia, the Bulldog offense played against some former Natchez High School students.

The bigger and taller Bulldog alumni got the best of the current crop of Bulldogs on some jump balls in the corner of the end zone, which Melvin Davis joked “brought (the high schoolers) down a level.”

Former Bulldog and recent Arizona Cardinals signee Rico Richardson said Natchez head coach Roy Rigsby called him to corral a group of friends together to match up with the youngsters.

“It was cool,” Richardson said. “The game is a little more fast paced than what they’re playing at now, but they’re going to be great. They have a new coach doing some great things with them, and I can’t wait to see how that turns out.”

Natchez wide receiver Willie Johnson said matching up with the Bulldog alumni was a good experience, and he can feel the improving week to week as the summer progresses.

“(We’re getting better at) routes, speed, catching vision and all of that,” Johnson said.

Natchez quarterback Chris Scott showed off his arm strength by darting some passes into tight windows. Scott was not at the previous 7-on-7 practice last week.

“(Scott) can spread the field and make us run our routes harder, and we (wide receivers) want to make him better,” Johnson said.

As for Vidalia, wideout and cornerback Jordan Mays said the LHSAA Class 3A squad is reaping similar benefits traveling to Natchez to play the MHSAA Class 5A Natchez team.

“These are the best athletes in the Miss-Lou area,” Mays said. “Everybody was a little nervous because those boys are a lot bigger than us. This week we calmed down, we’re a lot stronger than last year.”

The senior Viking said Vidalia coaches have been quizzing the team about the defense on the days in between 7-on-7 games. Mays said players take turns going up to the board, drawing up a defensive scheme for whatever offense the coaching staff draws up.

Head coach Jeff Hancock also emphasizes tempo with his team. After each play Hancock shouts for his players to find the ball and calls what hash mark it will be spotted.

“(Tempo) is very important,” Mays said. “Even in practice we’re running. If a team is stronger than us, we’re going to out run them.”

Another scrimmage meant another week for Ferriday quarterback Ronald Williams to test out his arm. The junior was airing out the ball often Tuesday, connecting on a handful of 40- to 50-yard touchdown passes.

Williams said on most plays, he will make the decision to test the defense deep before the snap.

“If I see my receiver can beat them I’m going to let them know,” Williams said. “I look at (the matchup) before I even call.”

Williams said the Trojans are improving with regards to route running and knowing the patterns on each play.

The three teams will go back at it June 21 at Vidalia High School.