Natchez High School has lost its past two games, but head coach Roy Rigsby is not going to let his team get down.

After falling in a close game to South Jones last week, 42-35, the Bulldogs (4-3, 1-2) are set to travel to Brookhaven High (6-1, 3-0) at 7 p.m. tonight.

“That is a very good Brookhaven team — better than they’ve been in recent years. We have our hands full,” Rigsby said. “We are going to go up there and give it everything we have.”

In last week’s loss, Natchez was able to respond to opposing scores, tieing the game three times on the night. What really hurt, Rigsby said, was giving up big plays.

“We have to get them off the field on third down. I think that is something we can really improve on,” he said. “We can usually hold them down for one, two, three, four or five plays and then they get a big play.”

Rigsby said going on the road is also always a challenge.

“When you go on the road, you have to have a better sense of your surroundings. A hostile environment is part of going to a visiting stadium, no matter where you go,” he said.

“Our travel base has increased a little bit, especially from last year. Hopefully it continues, but I look for Brookhaven to have a good crowd.”

Other challenges this week, Rigsby said, could come from anywhere.

“They have a very good defensive front, but when you look at their team, there are very few spots where you can say they need help,” he said. “They are solid all the way around.”

And as Rigsby continues to build a brand in his second year as head coach, he said the Bulldogs are bound to stay collected no matter what.

“We are going to play together, that’s all there is,” he said.