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NATCHEZ — Cathedral High School will play host to Parklane Academy in an important MAIS District 3-5A game for both teams this Friday at 7 p.m. at D’Evereux Stadium.

Parklane Academy (4-2, 1-0) lost at home to MAIS Class 6A powerhouse Jackson Preparatory School 48-12 last Friday night. On the other hand, Cathedral (3-2, 1-1) ended a two-game losing streak by rallying in the second half and then holding on at the end for a 24-21 homecoming game win over Brookhaven Academy.

Not only will the Green Wave be looking to go over .500 in district play, but they will also be looking to avenge last year’s 49-14 loss on the road to Parklane Academy, which is led by former Cathedral head football coach Ron Rushing.

As for what Cathedral will be working on in practice this week after, at times, a shaky performance against Brookhaven Academy, head coach Josh Loy said, “Continuing to work. Still working to get better.

And this is also the Green Wave’s annual “Pink Wave Game”. Cathedral’s players will wear their pink jerseys for this occasion.

“We do it annually. Players play for a family representative who’s battling cancer,” Loy said.

Loy said that Cathedral has a couple of players who are banged up, but that’s to be expected at the midway portion of the season, adding, “There’s going to be some nicks and bruises.”

As for what concerns him the most about Parklane Academy on each side of the ball when he sees the Pioneers on film, Loy said, “They do a good job offensively spreading the ball to different players. They have a big defensive line. We’re going to have a hard time moving them. We’re going to have to be creating and execute better on offense.”

Loy said that the Pioneers run a 4-3 defense and that they’re spread and multiple on offense. He then said it’s going to take a great effort for Green Wave to pull off the upset and stay in the playoff hunt.
“Parklane’s one of the top teams in our district. We have to be more efficient than we have been. I think we’re capable of playing that kind of game, but we haven’t played that yet,” Loy said.

He then said that junior quarterback Tristan Fondren will have to have one of his best, if not his best, games of the season for the Green Wave to get what would be a huge win and help in the power points rankings in Class 5A.

Loy said despite being understaffed compared to Parklane when it comes to the trenches, the offensive and defensive lines will have to have a big game. As will the secondary because, as Loy put it, the Pioneers like to throw the football — a lot.