NATCHEZ — Wyatt Boothe and Dee Fleming couldn’t have planned a better start to their football careers at Cathedral High School.

On the first play of Cathedral’s jamboree against Wilkinson County Christian Academy, Boothe dropped back and hit Fleming over the middle for a 70-yard touchdown. The play set the tone for a 35-6 blowout, but Boothe admitted wide receiver R.J. Givens was wide open on the play and that he could have thrown it to him. However, Boothe saw Fleming streaking down the middle, fixing to make his cut.

“I know how (Fleming) makes his cut,” said Boothe who threw a 70-yard touchdown and 50-yard touchdown to his former Trinity teammate. “We’ve been playing together for five years now, so there’s a level of comfort there.”

Boothe lasted just three series in the two-quarter blowout before head coach Ron Rushing put Alex Weadock in. Boothe completed all four of his passes for 134 yards and three touchdowns and added 12 rushing yards on the ground. Fleming finished the game with 120 receiving yards, two touchdown receptions and 17 yards rushing on four carries. Rushing thought Fleming looked the part.

“I’ve never seen him play, and I was excited to see him catch and run the ball,” Rushing said. “He’s going to be a dynamic player for us.”

Rushing accomplished his goal of getting all quarterbacks playing time. Weadock played a series and completed a pass, Andrew Beesley threw for 73 yards and a touchdown and Connor Mire completed two passes on the Green Wave’s final drive.

What pleased Rushing the most was his defensive play, which allowed 79 total yards and didn’t give up a first down until the second quarter.

“I’m really pleased,” Rushing said. “We spent a lot of time working defensively, and I think it’s going to pay off for us this season.”

Jardarius Anderson caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Boothe and Jacob Jenkins reeled in a 24-yard touchdown pass from Beesley. Jenkins also had an interception on defense.

Though Cathedral was able to spread the ball around, Rushing pointed out that R.J. Givens, who made the 2013 All-Metro team last year, wasn’t heavily involved with the offense against WCCA. Rushing said that would change in the season when he uses all of his weapons offensively.

“When we open it up, we’ll have the ability to get the ball to anybody at anytime,” Rushing said.

WCCA’s Rodney Boyd recorded 54 rushing yards on 11 carries and scored the only touchdown of the game for the Rams.

Cathedral will play at St. Aloysius High School Friday in the season opener. Fleming hopes to build off of what he started Friday night.

“(Friday) was just the beginning,” Fleming said. “I’m looking forward to a great year.”