Jefferson County head football coach James Herrington knows a few key plays were the difference in a 20-14 overtime loss to South Pike last week.

“Going back and looking at film and actually being there on the sideline, you get a gist of where we are (as a team),” Herrington said. “The biggest difference was missed scoring opportunities and turnovers. We weren’t able to capitalize in the red zone.”

Herrington also knows that the MHSAA Class 3A Tigers have a numbers disadvantage against the Class 5A Natchez High School Bulldogs.

Natchez is coming off a 26-14 win at home against another Class 3A foe, Wilkinson County High School,

Herrington said, for the Tigers to earn a win in his home opener, they can’t squander chances in the red zone.

“Having to play Natchez every year, we know their numbers will be a deciding factor,” Herrington said. “Every time we get opportunities to put points on the board, we have to. We can’t go inside the 10-yard line and come out empty.”

Herrington said he hopes to evoke some of the Friday night magic he had the last time Jefferson County beat Natchez in 2007. The Tigers earned a 30-26 win at Natchez High School, and Herrington said it was Jefferson County’s first win over the Bulldogs in approximately 25 years.

“Playing Natchez is always a game that every team coming in wants to win,” Herrington said. “I have slayed the beast before, so hope it carries over.”

Natchez High coach Roy Rigsby could not be reached for comment.