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NATCHEZ — Coming off a loss on the road to one of the top contenders for a district championship is one thing. Having to go up against another team who’s also looking for its first win in district play as your homecoming opponent is quite another.

But that is what faces Cathedral High School this week as the Green Wave prepares to host Brookhaven Academy in a match-up of teams looking for their first victory in MAIS District 3-5A at D’Evereux Stadium at 7 p.m. Friday.

And if that wasn’t enough, this is also the Green Wave’s homecoming and temperature at kickoff will likely be in the mid- to upper-80s. Both teams are also on two-game losings streaks. The Cougars gave it their all in a 21-0 home loss to Adams County Christian School while Cathedral lost at Oak Forest Academy 48-21 last Friday night in what was the Yellow Jackets’ homecoming game.

As for what the Green Wave will be working on this week to get ready for the Cougars as well as what positives head coach Josh Loy got from last week’s game at OFA, he said, “We’ve got a lot to work on. We’re going to work on our physicality. We have to be more physical. We’ve got to do a better job executing in the running game. Defensively, we have to tackle better. I thought Drake Cox played his best game of the year. Logan Moore continues to be solid up front for us.”

While Braxton Fondren threw two touchdown passes last week, the Green Wave had trouble running the ball and its defense could not stop the run or the pass. They also hurt them with untimely penalties and turnovers.

Despite getting off to a rough start record-wise this season, there are some things about this year’s Brookhaven Academy team that concerns coach Loy. And the Cougars will be seeking to avenge last year’s 44-14 home loss to the Green Wave.

“They’re very much improved. They’re a well-coached team. They’re playing with more passion. They’re more physical than they were last year. The scores in the game indicate they’re very improved,” Loy said.

Last week against ACCS, the Cougars went with a two-high safety look that kept the Rebels and quarterback Coleman Carter from having the big plays that they are accustomed to. Loy said he expects the Cougars to play that same kind of defense against Cathedral because of the Green Wave’s issues with the running game.

“I think they will play us very similar to what they did against ACCS. I think everyone will play us that way because they know we’re struggling in the run game. We’re going to have to do a much better job running the football than we have the last few weeks,” Loy said.

As for what kind of offense he expects to see from the Cougars, Loy said, “They’re in a split-back, running the veer. It’s a great chance for us to have another look at that.”

Besides the opponent across the field, this week is homecoming week at Cathedral and Loy is hoping that his players will not only be focused in practice this week, but also during a game the Green Wave needs to win to get back in the win column and keep its playoff hopes alive.

“I think it’s always a concern. Are they more concerned about dressing up and playing house or are the more concerned about playing football. It’s always a concern to me,” Loy said.

As for who will need to step up for the Green Wave to end its two-game losing streak, Loy said, “Everybody’s got to play better. I don’t think anybody played well last week. We have to play better. We have to coach better for us to get the job done.”