NATCHEZ — This weekend two Bulldogs will be leading the South Boys All-Star team’s offense.

Franklin County’s Matt Lofton and Natchez High’s Ross Smith will be representing Southwest Mississippi in the 26th annual Mississippi Association of Coaches All-Star soccer game on Saturday.

Smith and Lofton’s appearance in the game will be firsts for both schools, as neither school has ever been represented during the previous 25 years of the event.

“It’s an unbelievable honor,” Smith said. “I’m really happy to have made the team and to be the only player from Natchez.”

Natchez High coach Dennis Hogue echoed his player’s sentiments on the rarity of his selection.

“Usually the coast and Jackson area dominate (the all-star teams),” Hogue said. “I think (being named an all-star) is bragging rights, it’s like Ross is raising the bar for everyone else coming up.”

Brad Mullins, the Franklin County High School coach, said Lofton’s all-around ability on the field and leadership helped get him selected.

“I think number one, he reads the defense well. He’s real good on the first step and real quick once he realizes a pass is being made,” Mullins said. “He gets to a lot of balls people don’t get to.”

Lofton said it’s a privilege to be selected for the team and he’s looking forward to representing Franklin County.

“It’s a great honor just to be thought about to play in it,” Lofton said. “I’m going to enjoy every minute of it.”

Both Lofton and Smith were offensive juggernauts for their respective schools over their high school careers, scoring 17 and 40 goals respectively in their senior seasons.

“Ross is pretty much like me, he can run really fast and he would take advantage of easy situation like 2-on-1’s,” Lofton said.

Lofton went on to say he’s glad he’ll be playing with Smith instead of against him because guarding the Natchez High Bulldog is no easy task.

“He keeps the ball close to him and makes it hard to get the ball from him — I know that from experience.”

Getting Nominated

According to Johnny Mims, Executive Director of the Mississippi Association of Coaches, selecting the teams was a several-step process.

First each school’s coach nominated players they felt were good players and had good character.

Next the MAC’s soccer subcommittee, along with each team’s (North and South teams) coach select the players.

Smith’s nomination, however, was a bit unorthodox in a year of firsts for Natchez High soccer.

Hogue admitted he was unfamiliar with the process of nominating players for the All-Star game but was happy Smith was nominated by a rival coach.

“Wes McCullough (the South Boys team coach) called me up and asked what Ross was doing after school let out,” Hogue said. “He said ‘ I’m coaching the All-Star game and I want him to play for me.”’

Smith said he expects the South to win by a score of 3-1.

“They’re not going to be able to stop us,” Smith said.

Although he’ll be going up against a team comprised of the state’s best players, Smith expects to score a goal. “Oh, I’m getting one,” Smith said with a confident laugh.

The game is scheduled to take place at Joe Renfroe Stadium on the campus of Hinds Community College in Raymond. Kickoff is at noon, with tickets costing $5.