Football practice got under way Monday at schools across the Miss-Lou.

Players at each school will be practicing in helmets and shorts the first three days of this week before putting on the pads on Thursday.

Cathedral head coach Ken Beesley said his team will be doing agility drills and conditioning drills to get used to the heat and will start putting in its offense.

Cathedral will be in Region 3-1A this year and will face nine region opponents – Dexter, Mize, West Lincoln, Mount Olive, Enterprise, Stringer, Salem, Bogue Chitto and St. Aloysius.

And despite going 2-7 overall and 1-4 in Division 6-2A in the 2000 season, coach Beesley said his team didn’t play as bad as the record indicated.

With only five seniors returning in 2001, coach Beesley said, &uot;It’s going to take us a while to gel.&uot;

Natchez head coach James Denson said his team be doing conditioning, as well as trying to get communication.

&uot;That’s what we’ll be focusing most of our attention on,&uot; he said.

Denson and his staff will be trying to turn around a program that won only five games in the last two seasons.

&uot;What we’ve ben stressing to them (players) is attitude and about work ethics, responsibility and dedication,&uot; he said.

The Bulldogs will be playing in Region 3, Division 7-5A with familiar division opponents from 2000 – Brandon, Wayne County and Meridian – and some unfamiliar opponents – Hattiesburg, Petal, Hancock Central and Oak Grove.

ACCS head coach Doug Clanton, who left Brookhaven Academy after two seasons to take the head coaching job at ACCS, said he’s very optimistic about the upcoming season despite a tough schedule.

In 2000, the Rebels went 4-7 during the regular season and 1-2 in MPSA District 4-3A, yet made the playoffs because district opponent Silliman used an ineligible player for much of the season.

Clanton said without hesitation that Centreville will be the team to be in district play this season.

The Saints will have 18 players on its roster this season – one more than in 2000, said Trinity coach David King.

&uot;We started six freshmen the last two games of last season, so they’re young in grade, but they’re experienced,&uot; he said. &uot;We’re going to count on a great group of sophomores to contribute.&uot;

Trinity will also have six seniors returning from last year’s 4-6 squad, including quarterback Chad Ridley and nose guard Lee &uot;Mouse&uot; Simpson, who made 110 tackles last season.

While King said Huntington and Amite School Center will be the teams to beat, &uot;We’re going to try to surprise some people.&uot;