NATCHEZ — This Friday marks the beginning of a second season for Natchez High School.

With district play beginning against Provine, Natchez head coach Henry Garner expects his team to look sharper than it did to start the season.

“I told our players this is like a brand new season, and that I thought we didn’t start season one the way we should have,” Garner said. “Hopefully we have the right mind frame going into this game.”

Leading the Bulldogs into the “second season” will be quarterback Chris Scott, who was benched late in the game against Warren Central. After opening up the quarterback competition, Garner said Scott has performed well at practice.

“He just got a little frustrated in that game,” Garner said. “We decided to make the change and let him settle down. I think it helped him watching on the sidelines.”

Scott will lead the (1-2) Bulldogs against a (3-2) Provine team that has displayed great speed in its wins this season.

“They like to run it a lot, and they’ll throw it deep,” Garner said. “They run several formations in the backfield. I think we can contain their speed, though. It all comes down to our intensity and how bad we want it.”

Offensively, Garner would like to see Scott find big offensive playmakers like wide receivers Malik Byrd and Travez Lyles, but he said he wanted to establish the run with Tydarrius Terrell first and foremost.

“That’s very important,” Garner said. “We’re going to try to control the line of scrimmage and work from that.”

Garner said he’s confident his team will get on the right track and start district play with a win.

“The pieces are there,” Garner said. “We just have to piece it all together.”

Natchez will host Provine at 7 p.m. Friday.