NATCHEZ – The Franklin County Bulldogs soccer season came to endThursday night at Natchez’s Deveraux Stadium. In the final game ofthe regular season, Cathedral eliminated Franklin High from theplayoffs, winning 2-0 in the boys game and 3-1 in girls action.

Franklin County (11-7, 2-4) had trouble finding the goal theentire, while Cathedral (8-6, 4-2) kept getting the breaks. Asecond half kick by Green Wave senior Hunter Foster sailed offFranklin County goal keeper Blaine Abernathy’s hands and onto thefoot of Cathedral speedster Kris Griffiths for an ironic goal thatput FCHS behind 2-0.

The Bulldogs never recovered.

Heated tempers and several verbal exchanges led to 4 yellowcards down the stretch between both teams. Franklin County, coachedby first year coach Brad Mullins, tried to mount a rally but peskyand wet field conditions slowed them down, as did the Cathedraldefense and Green Waves goalie Jessie Morrison.

“He (Jessie Morrison) made playing keeper look easy tonight,”said Cathedral coach Rick Simons. “He controlled the field andstopped everything that came his way.”

Despite the field conditions, the game was played aggressivelyfrom start to finish. Natchez Cathedral clinched the runner’s upspot in Region 7 with the win behind North Pike. The playoffs startTuesday.

In the girls’ game, first half goals by TessFairbanks and Lani Griffiths led to an early 2-0 lead for Cathedral(9-4, 5-1), who clinched the runner’s up spot in the division aswell behind North Pike.

“Natchez Cathedral played us tough,” said FC ladies soccer coachBen Yarbrough. “We kept the ball 70-percent of the time in thefirst half, but we just couldn’t score.”

A quick second half goal by Franklin County standout CourtneyReid kept the Lady Bulldogs in the game until Natchez Cathedral’sMaddie Kirkwood knocked in a breakaway shot late to give the LadyGreen Waves the win.”

“We played a good game,” added Yarbrough. “I’m proud of all thegirls. They played a tough game on a very wet field, under extremeconditions.”

The Lady Bulldogs finished the season 12-7 overall and 2-4 indistrict play.

” We had a very good year,” said Yarbrough, who’s team won theNorth Pike Soccer tournament two weeks ago. “We played strong lateinto the season.”