Editor’s Note: Perfecting the position is a seven-part series devoted to the best position units in the Natchez, Vidalia and Ferriday area. Each Monday will focus on one position and the players from a school who have excelled at that position picked by The Natchez Democrat’s sports staff.

 

NATCHEZ — The biggest of stages do not faze Carlos Woods.

The Adams County Christian School senior calmly trots onto the field to lead the Rebel offense with one thing in mind — score.

“I have 100-percent confidence in every play we run,” Woods said. “I’m trying to score on every single play, which isn’t possible I know, but I’m treating it like it is.”

But it wasn’t long ago when the gunslinger was new to the big stage, and was forced to learn on the fly as he led ACCS to the MAIS AA championship game last year.

After starter Tyler Stockstill suffered a concussion against Centreville Academy, Woods was forced into the starting role.

In his first game against Central Private, Woods completed 12 of his 15 passes for 204 yards and three touchdowns.

“It helped me a lot,” Woods said of the experience last season. “It helped me see what football is all about and the stage I was trying to reach.”

That time also helped Woods and his head coach David King gel.

“He learned to listen to me and feed off of me hollering and screaming and that is good,” King said. “He makes plays when he has to.”

Despite his mobility, the pocket is like a second home to Woods, who said he is comfortable as can be on the field.

“It is just staying relaxed really, that is all I can say,” he said.

But when he has to, he can just as easily step out of the pocket and make a play with his feet.

“This offseason I really worked on getting faster and getting my arm stronger,” Woods said. “It makes things hard on the other team because they don’t know what I’m going to do, pass it or run it.”

So far this season, Woods has yet to struggle, and when the biggest tests came, he took his game to another level.

In a matchup with MAIS AAAA powerhouse Jackson Academy, Woods lit up the Raider defense throwing for 177 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 27 yards and had two rushing touchdowns. And most recently, in a cross-town showdown with Cathedral High School, Woods led the Rebel offense throwing for 189 yards, four touchdowns and completed 12 of his 17 passes.

“I knew I had to step up and be the leader of this team,” Woods said.

As for the future, Woods said he is eyeing the most coveted stage of them all once again, the state championship, but plans on leaving with a different outcome.

“It would mean everything to me and be everything I wanted for my senior year of football,” Woods said.