NATCHEZ — The (4-4) Natchez Bulldogs will travel to play (4-4) Brookhaven High School this Friday with playoff implications in the balance.

The Bulldogs likely have to win out to have a shot at reaching the postseason. Both teams are 1-3 in district, and have a lot of similarities in both schools have looked strong and weak at various times of the season.

“We’re still laying the foundation here,” Natchez head coach Melvin Pete said. “We’re still trying to play a full four quarters.”

The Bulldogs are coming off of a loss to Laurel High School, a game Natchez led at halftime but would ultimately be outscored 43-6 in the second half.

Freshman Chris Scott started the game at quarterback, but was replaced by Sidney Davis, who served as the quarterback for most of the game and threw for more than 200 yards and produced four total touchdowns. Davis also had three interceptions and a fumble in the loss. Despite Davis’ remarkable performance, Pete said he’s not sure which quarterback he will start against Brookhaven.

“We plan on going back and trying to get Chris some confidence,” Pete said. “With that said, what can you say about the performance from Sidney? Then, you have to think about how we’re taxing his body making him go both ways.”

Pete said Anthony Robinson did not play quarterback against Laurel because of how well Davis was playing, but that Robinson was another option against Brookhaven.

Of course, Pete said he and his staff are already coming up with ways to keep Ole Miss commit Leo Lewis from affecting the game at linebacker.

“We’re going to try our best to stay away from the No. 1 linebacker in the country,” Pete said. “We want to stay in some 5-wide to spread the field out. We want to locate him and identify him.”