NATCHEZ — In a 41-6 victory against Brookhaven Academy, Cathedral High School played lights out.

Before the lights malfunctioned at halftime — leaving everyone in Devereaux Stadium sitting in the dark for 15 minutes — Cathedral was holding onto a 41-0 lead, proving to head coach Ron Rushing that they were going to take care of business after falling to Jackson Prep the week prior. Rushing, who was upset with his team’s effort at practice for the past two weeks, was proud of his team for getting back to form.

“I thought we played well and executed well,” Rushing said. “I tell them every day, though, this isn’t something you can just flip a switch on. You can’t have three good days of practice and be satisfied with it. You have to get better every day. We have to go straight back to work.”

Senior running back Dee Fleming led the charge for Cathedral, totaling 147 rushing yards, 22 receiving yards and four total touchdowns by the 10:23 mark of the second quarter. Fleming, who was challenged along with his teammates by Rushing after the loss to Jackson Prep, said the performance was a culmination of focus and hard work.

“It was partly a statement, but it was also doing the job we set out to do,” Fleming said.

It took Cathedral only three plays to get on the board once the game commenced, as Connor Mire found Jardarius Anderson for a 20-yard gain before Fleming rushed into the end zone from 44 yards out.

After the defense did its job and forced a three-and-out, Cathedral capped off another scoring drive with a Fleming touchdown run, going up 14-0 just four minutes into the game.

Following another three-and-out, Cathedral had its drive stalled, giving Brookhaven Academy a sign of life for the first time in the game. Zach Flattmann snatched that new breath of life out of the air with an interception for Cathedral on the ensuing Brookhaven Academy drive. Mire went to work quick, completing passes to Anderson and Fleming for another score. The touchdown pass to Fleming went 22 yards after a Brookhaven Academy defender met Fleming in the flats after receiving the ball and bounced off of Fleming, who accelerated up the field for the score.

“He went to work and ran the ball hard,” Rushing said. “I thought the line opened up some nice holes for him. I was pleased with the way we played today.”

Cathedral continued to roll in the second quarter. On the third play of the first drive of the quarter, Mire found Beesley for a 13-yard touchdown, giving Cathedral a 28-0 lead. After forcing a Brookhaven Academy punt, Fleming capped off his day with a one-yard touchdown rush. Flattmann gave Cathedral a 41-0 lead on the next series with a 10-yard touchdown rush, forcing Rushing to send in his second unit eight minutes into the second quarter.

While Cathedral was piling on the points, two-way starter Robert Hargrave was watching on the sidelines, dressed in his jersey and khaki shorts. Hargrave, who’s played most of the season with a torn meniscus, is expected to have surgery next week.

“He went to the doctor and is possibly going to have surgery next Friday,” Rushing said. “He’s played all year with a lateral meniscus tear, but it’s to the point where we need to get it taken care of and have him back in time for the playoffs.”

Cathedral allowed 47 rushing yards and 114 total yards on the evening. The clock ran the entire second half, and Cathedral finished the game with 299 total yards. Fleming totaled more than half of that yardage with 169.

With the win, Cathedral improves to 3-1 on the season, and will host Parklane Academy Friday.