NATCHEZ — Former NBA guard Robert Horry was given the nickname “Big Shot Bob” for the number of big shots he hit throughout his career, especially in the playoffs.

Well, Cathedral junior wide receiver Carl Hammitte needs a similar nickname — “Big Catch Carl” perhaps — because he’s done nothing but make huge catches for the Green Wave all season.

Hammitte is averaging more than 40 yards per reception this season, including touchdown receptions of 79 and 93 yards in Cathedral’s 13-8 win over St. Aloysius last Friday.

“He is unbelievable,” Cathedral coach Ron Rushing said. “He’s such a big-play threat with great hands and athleticism. He’s not scared to make the big play and wants the ball in his hands in certain situations.”

Hammitte’s biggest catch of the year, however, came in Cathedral’s 22-21 victory over defending state champion Mount Olive.

With 11 seconds left, Hammitte made a 40-yard completion that put the Green Wave on the 1-yard line.

Quarterback Caleb Upton ran it in on the next play as time expired and Cathedral would win with a two-point conversion.

“That Mount Olive game was definitely my biggest catch,” Hammitte said. “It was a straight fly pattern down the sideline, and Caleb made a great throw.”

Upton has been the beneficiary of Hammitte’s catches, and said having a receiver of his ability makes it easier on him as a quarterback.

“All I have to do is just throw it up to him and he’ll come down with it,” Upton said. “It doesn’t even have to be that good of a throw. He can really change the game. He’s really aggressive and will just go up and get it.”

Hammitte’s deep-threat ability has helped greatly improve a Cathedral offense that lacked big-play ability last season.

Cathedral is averaging 35 points per game after averaging just 18 points last season.

“Having a guy who can stretch the field vertically instead of just stretching it horizontally is huge,” Rushing said. “We’ve got four or five guys who can catch the ball, and everyone feeds off each other.”

Hammitte’s breakout junior season is a far cry from last year, when he didn’t make much of an impact on the offense.

But a sitdown with Rushing and an attitude adjustment was all it took for Hammitte to prove dominant on the football field.

“Last year my mind wasn’t into the game,” Hammitte said. “Coach talked to me a lot one on one, and I got my mindset right.”

Rushing said Hammitte’s comfort level is much greater this year, which is leading to his great season.

“He’s feeling comfortable now with the idea of what is going on on the field,” Rushing said. “He’s just letting his athletic ability take over.”

Hammitte and his fellow receivers will need to continue to play well Friday when the Green Wave (7-1, 4-0) host Bogue Chitto (5-3, 3-1) in a critical Region 4-1A matchup.

If the Green Wave win, they would only need to win one of their final two games to clinch their first region championship since 1993.

But Hammitte said the team doesn’t want to stop there.

“We want to go all the way,” Hammitte said. “We’ve got the ability to. We knew from the beginning we were a good team, but that win over Mount Olive brought us into the light. That game let out our swagger.”