INDIANOLA — The Cathedral Green Wave suffered its third loss of the season Friday night to the third undefeated team it has faced in the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools. This time, a 27-7 loss to Indianola Academy ended Cathedral’s championship aspirations.

“It was a sloppy one,” Cathedral head coach Ron Rushing said. “The weather took the passing game right out of it.”

In what Rushing described as a playing field of mud, Rushing called only six passes, and quarterback Connor Mire completed 2 of his 6 for 21 yards and an interception.

“The conditions weren’t great, but (Indianola) had to play in the same thing,” Rushing said. “We like mixing it up, and being balanced, but the weather didn’t cooperate. Still, you have to tip your hat to a team like Indianola. They adapted. They took it to us.”

Indianola took advantage of an early fumble by the Green Wave and scored on a short field to go up 7-0. Cathedral then answered with a drive, led by Dee Fleming on the ground. Fleming scored from 10 yards out to tie the game 7-7.

Indianola answered, and Cathedral drove the ball down inside Indianola’s 10-yard line, but a sack and a penalty kept Cathedral from scoring, and Rushing said his team couldn’t get anything going afterward.

Fleming rushed the ball 21 times for 53 yards in the loss. Cathedral was limited to 83 total yards in the loss.

Meanwhile, Indianola racked up 329 yards of offense with Sherman Timbs leading the way with 114 rushing yards.

Rushing said linebacker James Allen Coley injured his ankle and was unable to play the majority of the second half. Coley led the team in tackles last season and has led the team this year.

Cathedral turned the ball over five times in the loss.

Following the loss, Rushing had nothing but high praise for his team.

“I’m as competitive as anybody, but when you play your heart out and lose to a team like that, you just have to tip your hat,” Rushing said. “My seniors, I wouldn’t trade those guys for anybody. I’d go to war with them any day.”

Cathedral’s season comes to an end with a 9-3 record overall.