By Reina Kempt

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — In the weight room at Adams County Christian School, there is a saying on the wall by Abraham Lincoln, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”

ACCS strength and conditioning coach Bill James said this quote means to prepare oneself before starting a task.

And that is exactly what the football players at ACCS were doing as they wrapped up their third week of summer workouts.

James said they practice four times a week for at least two hours a day to get ready for the fall.

“We have six more weeks of one-a-days, then we’ll bump it up to two-a-days in August,” James said. “It’s all about getting better. If you’re not getting better, then you’re behind.”

The ACCS weight room is going through some remodeling, as the booster club bought new windows and floor mats and the alumni bought three new weight lighting stations. But as the weight room goes through changes, it can get pretty cluttered.

“There is a lot of moving around, but that won’t stop us from lifting and getting better,” he said.

Summer usually means sun and vacation for most children, but James said 90 percent of the team attends summer workouts instead of going on vacation.

James said their regimen changes up day to day, but one thing remains the same: They lift weights hard, and they run — a lot.

Sophomore linebacker/full back Chisum Mardis transferred from Cathedral High School this summer, and he said the running is something he’s getting used to.

“It’s a new school, and the workouts are a lot harder,” Mardis said. “There is a lot more running.”

James said the players run an average of five to 10 20-yard sprints, 30-yard sprints and 40-yard sprints respectively.

Then, they run a hill where they run five to 10 sprints forward, back pedaling and bear crawls.

“When we run, it is mostly to gain speed than for cardio. Cardio comes with it, but they have to work on their footwork,” James said. “On Tuesdays, they run about 15 110-yard dashes.”

Senior offensive guard Scotty Floyd said that his team is putting forward a bigger effort this summer.

“(The players are) more dedicated this year, and more people are coming to summer workouts,” he said. “We’ve all been getting faster and stronger.”

When it comes to his team’s goals, they’re pretty point blank.

“Of course we want to win state,” he said. “But mostly we don’t want to be 3-8 again, I know that.”

Mardis is looking forward to being on a completely opposite side of what the Rebels accomplished last year.

“We want to be undefeated,” Mardis said.

With determination in their hearts, the football players of ACCS head to the weight room, blast some motivational music and prepare to move the chains this fall.