NATCHEZ — Craig Beesley knows the importance of getting the season off to a good start.

It’s something that his Cathedral Green Wave failed to do last year and it cost them a playoff berth.

Despite winning three of their final four games, the Wave couldn’t overcome a 1-5 start and fell short of the playoffs.

It’s something that Beesley doesn’t want to have happen this season, and it starts tonight as the Green Wave host Dexter at 7:30 tonight in the season opener for both teams.

“We’ve had two good practices on Tuesday and Wednesday and we’re ready to go,” Beesley said. “You always want to win that first game. Last year we got off to a slow start, so we’re concentrating on the first few games this season.

“We want to start the season better and make a run at the playoffs, but you’ve got to win the first game to put yourself in that position.”

In order to do that, Beesley will count on an improved running game and a more experienced offensive line.

Last season, the Green Wave relied on the passing ability of quarterback Preston Edwards and ran the ball very little.

This year Beesley wants a much more balanced attack.

“We’ve got that (running) option this year more than we did last year,” Beesley said. “We’ve got all of our linemen back and they’ve really meshed together well.

“In high school football you hear a lot about the skill position players but the line wins and loses a lot of games you don’t realize. They should help us a lot this year.”

Beesley said the Cathedral defense will have its hands full against an athletic Dexter team that finished 2007 with a 6-4 record.

“The main thing is they’re going to be very athletic,” Beesley said. “Their skill position people will be some of the most athletic people we’ll face. The main thing is not to allow their athletic ability to take over the game. We’ve got to make sure we have the right assignments at all times.”