NATCHEZ — If you take a look at the Class 6A state rankings, you’ll have to look long and hard to find the Natchez High Bulldogs.

That’s because they aren’t there.

In both the Associated Press poll and the Clarion-Ledger poll, which ranks the top five teams, the Bulldogs are nowhere to be seen.

And in the Mississippi Prep Sports Source rankings, which ranks the top 15 teams in each classification, Natchez is ranked 10th, despite the fact that the Bulldogs are one of only eight teams still remaining in the playoffs.

That lack of respect is something that coach Lance Reed says the team is feeding off of as they go into their Class 6A quarterfinal matchup against Ocean Springs (10-2).

“We’re still trying to gain respect throughout the state,” Reed said. “We feed on that each week. We can go out there and feel like the underdog all the time, and we play hard because of that. We thrive on having something to prove.”

Natchez (9-3) can go a long ways toward gaining that respect by knocking off the Greyhounds on the road tonight and advancing to the South State finals, something they haven’t done since 1997.

Reed said the mindset of this year’s team is quite different from last year’s, which also advanced to the second round of the playoffs.

“I think we were really excited to be there last year,” Reed said. “The concept of advancing might have been a little more far fetched than it is now. I think we’ve really settled into being here and belonging, and still proving that we can keep going.”

And if Natchez it to keep going, they must stop an Ocean Springs offense that rolled up 49 points against Hattiesburg in their first round playoff victory last week.

“We’re learning day by day about them,” Reed said. “From what we see on film, they’re a very disciplined and physical team. They run the football, so we’re going to have to really step up and play the run and play very good defense.”

Ocean Springs also boasts a very good defense, which went four consecutive games earlier this season without allowing a point.

“We can’t turn the ball over against these guys,” Reed said. “We have to play solid offense and take what they’re going to give us. They’re going to blitz us and be really active, so we’re really going to have to be smart and take what we can.”