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NATCHEZ — The Midsouth Association of Independent Schools released the varsity football schedules for the 2020 varsity football season last Saturday. And while most of the schedules remain the same from 2019, there is a notable difference for one local school.

River Oaks School out of Monroe, one of Cathedral School’s opponents in MAIS District 4-4A, was not listed when the schedules came out. The Mustangs would have hosted the Green Wave on Friday, Sept. 11, but now that is an open date for Cathedral — but for a stunning reason.

“They (River Oaks) dropped out of the MAIS and they dropped everyone that they were playing. We replaced them with Wayne Academy,” Green Wave head coach Chuck Darbonne said. “We had an off week because we couldn’t find anyone to play that week. River Oaks is going to go to the LHSAA (Louisiana High School Athletic Association).”

The good news was that Cathedral was able to find a new opponent. However, that also means starting the season one week earlier than originally planned.

The Green Wave will hit the road to take on the Jaguars on Friday, Aug. 14 — or Week Zero as Darbonne put it. They were to start the season on Aug. 21 at Bowling Green School in Franklinton, La.

Then on Aug. 28, the Green Wave will play host to St. Joseph Catholic High School out of Madison.

Cathedral will play at Hillcrest Christian School in Jackson for its district opener on Friday, Sept. 4 before hosting Brookhaven Academy and Riverfield Academy on Sept. 18 and Sept. 25, respectively to round out district play.

The final four games of the regular season for the Green Wave are as follows — Oct. 2 at Clinton Christian Academy; Oct. 9, home against Centreville Academy, Oct. 16 at Amite School Center; and Oct. 23, home vs. rival St. Aloysius High School.

Adams County Christian School begins its season on Friday, Aug. 21 and on the road as the Rebels travel to Amite, La. to take on Class 6A Oak Forest Academy. Then three of their next four games are at home — Columbia Academy on Aug. 28, Class 6A powerhouse Jackson Preparatory School on Sept. 11, and District 3-5A opponent Copiah Academy on Sept. 18. ACCS plays at Clinton Christian on Sept. 4.

After playing at district opponent Silliman Institute on Sept. 25, the Rebels’ schedule is a mixture of non-district and district opponents.

They host Brookhaven Academy (non-district) on Oct. 2, play at St. Aloysius (district) on Oct. 9, play at Centreville Academy (non-district) on Oct. 16, and round out the season on Oct. 23 at home against Central Hinds Academy (district).

Centreville Academy had one change to its schedule and that is its season-opening opponent. After taking on New Orleans Home School in 2019, the Tigers will begin the 2020 season at home on Aug. 21 against Class 5A Washington School out of Greenville. They then host Bowling Green on Aug. 28.

The Tigers then have back-to-back road games against Silliman Institute on Sept. 4 and Brookhaven Academy on Sept. 11. They take on District 3-3A rival Amite School Center at home on Sept. 18 before hosting Porter’s Chapel Academy on Sept. 25.

Centreville will be on the road for its next two games as it travels to Bay Springs to take on defending District 3-3A champion Sylva-Bay Academy on Oct. 2. Then the Tigers go to Natchez to take on Cathedral on Oct. 9. The Tigers will end their season with home games against ACCS on Oct. 16 and district foe Newton County Academy on Oct. 23.

In its second year in MAIS 8-Man football, Wilkinson County Christian Academy will have the same opponents as it did last year. The Rams open their season on Aug. 21 at home against Kemper Academy.

That will be the first of six straight non-district opponents for WCCA to start the season. The Rams play at Ben’s Ford Christian School on Aug. 28; host Riverdale Academy on Sept. 4; play at Union Christian Academy on Sept. 11; host Prairie View Academy on Sept. 18; and play at Franklin Academy on Sept. 25.

The Rams host Christian Collegiate Academy from Gulfport in their District 2-1A opener on Oct.2. Then they host a former longtime 11-man football rival in Tensas Academy on Oct. 9. The return to district play on Oct. 16 when they play at Rebul Academy. They once again step out of district to take on Claiborne Academy on the road on Oct. 23. Then they finish the season at home against district foe Prentiss Christian School on Oct. 30.