NATCHEZ — Mother Nature turned Saturday’s matchup between the Natchez Falcons and the Jackson Jaguars into a sloppy affair before she managed to stop the game altogether.

The two teams combined for three fumbles in the first quarter, but Natchez managed to sneak into the end zone late in the first half to take a 7-0 lead into the break.

During halftime multiple lightning strikes near Tom F. Williams Memorial Stadium caused referees to stop the game and give Natchez Team-A the 7-0 victory.

“We really wanted to finish the game,” Natchez defensive coach Ernest Woods Sr. said. “It was disappointing, but we can’t fight the weather.”

Woods said the win, even though it came in a shortened game, was special for his players.

“It’s a marvelous feeling,” he said. “These kids believe in themselves. They are turning the corner on what we’re trying to do.”

The win over Jackson Team-A was a turning point for the Falcons. Woods said the Jaguars had beaten Natchez soundly in recent games.

“We are very excited,” he said. “We’ve been at the bottom of the cellar the last few years.”

Natchez quarterback Chris Scott’s 1-yard touchdown plunge late in the first half ended up being the difference for the Falcons.

The score was set up by a long run by Scott that took Natchez down inside Jackson’s 5-yard line.

Jaylin Pollard added the one-point conversion to give the Falcons a 7-0 lead with approximately two minutes to go in the half.

Woods said he knew the Falcons’ final possession was going to be huge.

“I told them, ‘This drive here is where we have to score. We have to score now if we are going to win it.’

“They responded to the challenge.”

Jackson threatened to tie the game before halftime, but the Natchez defense managed to stop the Jaguars from scoring.

“My hat’s off to the defense,” Woods said. “They shut them down.”

Woods said the sloppy conditions provided a great lesson for the young players.

“It was very slick, and we had towels, but with a downpour like that, it’s impossible to keep the ball dry,” he said.

The win put Natchez Team-A at 2-0 on the season.

The younger Natchez teams — Team-B and Team-C — also got wins Saturday against their counterparts from Jackson.

Natchez Falcons Team-B won a 6-0 defensive battle with a 45-yard touchdown pass from James Singleton to Jordan Caston making the difference.

Rico Carr led the defense with five tackles, and Desnic Bolden had four tackles.

The win moved Team-B to 1-1 on the season.

Natchez Team-C, the youngest of the three Falcons teams, put up 20 points in its win.

Traylon Minor rushed for two touchdowns and Terrell Penro added a rushing score of his own to help Natchez beat Jackson 20-12.

Minor also had four tackles to lead the defense. Roderick Simpson had two tackles for 2-0 Team-C.