NATCHEZ — Natchez High School quarterback Paul Hargrave dropped back. He looked to his left and then his right.

After four seconds of scanning the field, he threw the football to one of the receivers down the right sideline. Hargrave would continue to make reads, tight throws and check downs Tuesday night as he and his teammates participated at the first local 7-on-7 event of the summer at Natchez High School.

Along with Natchez, the event featured Vidalia High School, Ferriday High School and Wilkinson County High School. Alongside being the first 7-on-7 competition of the year for the Bulldogs, it was also Hargrave’s first time as the blue and yellow’s starting signal caller.

“It felt good,” Hargrave said. “However, I’m focused on putting in more work and getting better with my teammates. If I can do that, hopefully I can lead (the Bulldogs) to some wins.”

Although Hargrave said he wasn’t nervous to be Natchez’s main quarterback, he knows he has big cleats to fill.

Hargrave replaces now East Mississippi Community College signal caller Chris Scott, who had a decorated career at Natchez.

The former Bulldog was a three-star recruit who in his final year, completed 99-of-165 passes for 1,421 yards and 10 touchdowns with four interceptions. Scott also added 156 yards on the ground on 27 carries.

Although losing a starting signal caller like Scott could get any fanbase’s nerves rattled, the Natchez coaching staff is confident in Hargrave’s ability to lead the Bulldogs this season.

“He can put us in the right position,” said offensive coordinator Robert Benson. “He has a leadership presence that is one of the best I have seen.”

Hargrave and his coaches are excited for him to start and he learned a lot from backing up Scott last year.

“Being more patient,” Hargrave said. “Just how to read the defensive concepts and the zones. He taught me a lot, along with coach Benson.”

Benson said the two most important things Hargrave brings to the offense is leadership and being able to throw the ball to where only his receivers can get it — for which Benson said Hargrave’s arm is great.

Despite his coaches having faith in Hargrave’s abilities, Hargrave said there are areas of his game he needs to work. The two things Hargrave said he needs to improve upon is reading the defense and getting his timing down with the receivers.

Against Vidalia, Ferriday and Wilkinson County, Hargrave did place the ball to only where his pass catchers could catch it. However, he had some throws that were behind his receivers and were tossed into double and even triple coverage.

“I need to work with my receivers more,” Hargrave said. “Today showed I need more practice with them.”

Benson said Hargrave could fix those issues if he cleaned up his footwork and shoulder placement a little. Benson went on to add that 7-on-7s allows Hargrave to tighten up those areas and provides extra practice for him to work with his pass catchers.

Another area Benson believes Hargrave could better himself is his anticipation.

“Sometimes he thinks too much,” Benson said. “I just tell him to just play and not think through the game. Just play the game.”

That is what Hargrave wants to do — play the game. Natchez has two months before its first game, but Hargrave said he is ready to lead the Bulldogs. More importantly, he is prepared to show the blue and yellow faithful exactly what he can do.

“I’m ready to go get some wins,” Hargrave said.