As one district game lingers on the schedule for both Natchez High soccer teams, both teams have gone undefeated in district play thus far and have clinched district titles.

Both teams have also clinched district titles in back-to-back years. Last season’s girl’s district soccer title was the first in Natchez High history.

“It feels great,” Natchez girls’ head coach Lena Yarbrough said. “Last year felt good, but I am more excited about this year because we won district back-to-back with several bumps in the road.”

Those bumps she mentioned were mainly several injuries to players that resulted in her team having to compete with a short bench.

She said as a result, her team had to improve their skills, and not rely on the depth of the bench to go undefeated in district play.

“It is definitely a sign of progress. Our passing and communication was key,” she said.

Yarbrough said she is optimistic about having most of her players back in time for the first round of the playoffs. As preparations begin, she said her team is treating the last three district games as practice.

“We have got a lot of work to do heading into the playoffs. We know that it is not going to be easy, whoever we play,” Yarbrough said. “We are going to have to bump things up another notch.”

“We knew we had an opportunity to repeat, but our big goal this season is to advance in the playoffs,” Natchez boys’ head coach Dennis Hogue said.

Hogue said his team feels pretty good and is confident as they head into the final stretch of the regular season and the first round of the playoffs.

“From the very start, we talked about how our seven returning seniors would make an impact having such big shoes to fill. Five of those seven seniors started and all have made their positions their own,” he said.

Hogue said big performances by underclassmen and role players have also made the team better as a whole.

“They are a good team. They work together and communicate, and I am proud of them for that.”

In regards to communication, he said his team has done a good job of blocking out the negative this season. He said all his players have been very supportive of each other all season long.

Another reason for the high level of confidence in the team is the improved play of the second string — or non-starter players, as he called them.

“They have gotten more playing time this season, and a lot of those guys have really been impressive,” he said. “I am not worried about going to the bench.”

Hogue said the bench could also be a factor in the playoffs, and added, “It is good to know that I have guys on the bench that can hold their own. That is just one less thing I have to worry about heading into the playoffs.”

Cathedral, Franklin County and McComb are the last remaining non-district opponents on the Bulldog’s schedule. Hogue said all three opponents are tough, but he thinks they only help his team as they prepare for the playoffs.

“We don’t need to play easy teams. We want to play teams that will make us hunker down and play on our highest level,” he said.