The Natchez High Bulldogs will try to end a three-game losing streak when they open up Division 6-5A play on the road tonight against Northwest Rankin.

Last year, Northwest Rankin edged Natchez High, 24-20.

This is also the district opener for Northwest Rankin, which comes into the game with a 3-1 record.

Natchez (1-3) will be without the services of two key defensive players in linebackers Broderick Allen and Harry Smith because of injuries, head coach Elbert &uot;Mo&uot; Lyles said.

&uot;Practice has been somewhat intense this week,&uot; Lyles said. &uot;The kids are upbeat. We’ve made some adjustments defensively in which we’ll attack more instead of read and react.&uot;

Lyles said the secondary and receivers will need to step up their play in this contest.

That will be important against a Cougars team which has averaged 30 points a game in its first four games, and has 22 seniors on its team.

&uot;Northwest Rankin has one the top receivers in the state in Cameron Myers (Sr., 6-2, 200),&uot; Lyles said. &uot;He caught six passes for 160 yards against us last year.&uot;

Lyles said the Cougars are &uot;more of a passing team&uot; which runs an offset-I and a one-back set.

&uot;They have one of the bigger offensive lines we’re going to see,&uot; Lyles added.

Lyles said his team will have to run the ball to set up the pass against the 4-3 defense the Cougars will use.