NATCHEZ — After a long and hectic offseason, the Cathedral Green Wave will finally put everything aside and play football.

After moving from the Mississippi High School Activities Association to the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools, it’s only fitting Cathedral scheduled jamboree contests against Madison-Ridgeland Academy and Copiah Academy.

“It’s just fun to finally play somebody,” Cathedral head coach Ron Rushing said. “We’ve been beating up on each other every day. But I’ll tell you, right now, I feel like we’re in the best shape we’ve been in, in the last three or four years. I’m really pleased where we’re at.”

Rushing said he’s looking at the jamboree contests as a way to find depth for his club, which makes the junior varsity contests at 7 p.m. just as important as the varsity contests that follow at 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.

“I know the older guys can play,” Rushing said. “We’re concentrating more on the guys that we need to step in should there be an injury. We want to see if anybody out there is ready to play.”

Taking the forefront of the Jamboree will be Cathedral’s ensuing quarterback battle. Connor Mire will start against MRA at 7:30 p.m., while Andrew Beesley will start against Copiah at 8.

“I want to see how both guys react,” Rushing said. “Both have different qualities. When Connor is at quarterback, Andrew will be at receiver.”