NATCHEZ — ‘Groundhog Day’ was a 1993 comedy starring Bill Murray as a weatherman who kept reliving the same day over and over.

The 2010 version of ‘Groundhog Day’ stars the Natchez High Bulldogs and Hattiesburg Tigers.

And instead of a comedy, this version is a tense drama.

For the second year in a row, the two teams play one another on the final day of the regular season with a Class 6A playoff spot on the line.

For both teams, the formula is simple. Win and you’re in. Lose and you go home.

“It sounds like the same old song for us. We get down to playing Hattiesburg, having to win to get in,” Natchez High head coach Lance Reed said. “We usually start a week early for playoff time because of the Hattiesburg scenario.”

Natchez defeated Hattiesburg 29-20 last season to clinch a playoff spot and knock the Tigers out.

This year, a similar fate awaits the loser.

“We are in the playoff mindset now,” Reed said. “I don’t think there’s much pressure on us.”

Natchez (8-2, 4-2) still has a remote chance to make the playoffs even with a loss, but in order for that to happen, Brandon would have to lose to Wingfield or Oak Grove would have to lose to Jim Hill.

Those two teams have a combined one region win this season, and that was Wingfield’s victory over Jim Hill.

Needless to say, Reed knows his team will have to take care of its own business if it wants to make the playoffs for the third year in a row.

“We understand the scenario,” Reed said. “In the playoffs, if you don’t win, you go home. We’re excited about the opportunity to be in the playoffs again. It’s a step we have to complete to reach the goals that we’ve set.”

Hattiesburg comes into the game with a 4-6 overall record and a 3-3 record in Region 3-6A.

They kept their playoff hopes alive with a 23-14 win over Terry last week, and Reed knows the Tigers are a dangerous team.

“Hattiesburg is an athletic team. They’re a little younger than they’re used to being as far as personnel,” Reed said. “But regardless of that, they look like the same solid team we play year in and year out. They’ve got an athletic defense that’s fast and offensively they have several weapons.”

After giving up 30 points to Terry two weeks ago, the Natchez defense hunkered down last week and delivered a shutout of Wingfield.

Reed said that’s the kind of defense he expects to see on the field Friday night.

“We made a point to focus on some of the little things we got away from, like running to the football and playing aggressively,” Reed said. “We’ll continue to harp on those things and hopefully this Friday we’ll continue to show results from that emphasis.”

Another thing Reed would like to see is a fast start by his team, which is something that hasn’t happened the past two weeks.

The Bulldogs trailed 30-19 in the second half against Terry before rallying for a 40-30 win, and led Wingfield just 6-0 at halftime last week before scoring 28 second-half points.

“We want to play four complete quarters,” Reed said. “We want to get off to a strong start and be able to finish strong. If we can showcase a performance like that, we’ll be really pleased.”

In addition to a huge region contest, Friday’s game will also be senior night, and Reed is happy to play such an important game in front of the home fans.

“I feel like our home field is really an advantage for us to play here and have our fans get out and root us on,” Reed said. “We’re happy to have a solid core of fans who have supported us this entire season. We want to make them proud of us by going out there and putting on a good show.”