NATCHEZ — The Cathedral School football team is wrapping up its spring practice at 6:30 p.m. today with two spring games at West Lincoln High School.

Spring practice is the first step in the long process of building on the Green Wave’s successful 10-3 campaign in 2010.

Head coach Ron Rushing said he was focusing on fundamentals and defense this spring. He was also hoping to find some younger players who can step up and provide some depth in the fall.

“We have a lot coming back on offense, but we want to get better on the defensive side of the ball,” Rushing said.

In addition to the focus on tackling and defensive fundamentals, Rushing said the Green Wave was also installing a new defensive scheme this spring.

Rushing said that his team has had a productive spring, and there are some returning ninth and 10th graders that will be able to fill some holes next fall.

Cathedral will play two abbreviated spring games tonight, one versus West Lincoln and the other against Mount Hermon High, from Louisiana.

“The main purpose is to go up and find some guys that can play next year,” Rushing said. “We’re concentrating on the younger guys.”

The spring games are the culmination of a spring practice that lasted three weeks for the Green Wave, Rushing said.

The players will continue to work over the summer to prepare for the 2011 season.

Rushing said the players will workout four days a week over the summer. Summer workouts will also include a lineman camp taught by professional linemen and a seven-on-seven passing camp.

Cathedral is coming off its first winning season since 2006. The Green Wave made it to the quarterfinals of the state tournament.