NATCHEZ — Cathedral is now sliding down a slippery five-game losing slope after falling to undefeated Puckett, 57-14, Friday.

But with two games to go in the season, coach Craig Beesley is still optimistic for a couple more wins.

The Green Wave take on Pisgah (2-6) on Friday at home, and Beesley thinks this is the first team in three or four weeks with which his team may actually match up.

“We’ve had a lot of common opponents and our scores have been similar to theirs, so that’s why we think we might match up better,” he said. “If we can control the game and eliminate the turnovers, we should be in good shape.”

Click the following link for the Democrat Sports Watch’s preview of the Oct. 23, 2008 prep football games, featuring Cathderal, Trinity and Vidalia. Watch Democrat Sports Watch now.

Both Cathedral and Pisgah fell to Puckett, although Pisgah’s loss was 55-0. Mount Olive beat both teams — although the Green Wave scored 28 more points than the Dragons — and there was a two-point difference in the teams’ losses to Stringer.

The Bogue Chitto and St. Aloysius losses were similar as well.

Beesley said his team will face possibly the best running back in Region 4-A in Donatello Luckett.

“I’m hoping that the people around him we’ll be able to match up with better,” he said. “Sometimes he plays quarterback, sometimes he gets in the tailback spot. But wherever he lines up they’re pretty much trying to get the ball to him.”

Against Puckett, the Green Wave was unable to use its rushing attack, but Beesley hopes to have that back against the Dragons.

Depending on how JEB White’s knee feels at game time, Kole Junkin could see a lot of carries.

“We’re going to have to be able to mix it up offensively,” Beesley said. “We can run the ball and throw it against them. If we have to we can put Kole in the backfield.”

The Green Wave is still reeling from the loss to Puckett, its worst of the season, but Beesley said they have to put it behind him.

The silver lining, if any, is that Cathedral led the Wolves after the first quarter.

Beesley knew going in they would have to play a perfect game and pray for their opponent to make mistakes.

But with three turnovers, it was the Green Wave who screwed up.

“We’ve got to protect the ball if we want to win, especially the games where we know we have to play perfect,” Beesley said. “If we turn the ball over Friday this is another team that will be tough to beat.”