NATCHEZ — Perhaps Trinity Episcopal’s 34-8 win over a Huntington team ranked No. 2 in Class A last Friday night was a stunner to some, but not to Hounds head coach Chad Harkins.

“I don’t guess I had us prepared to play,” Harkins said. “We weren’t prepared to play and we got out-coached. I’ll take responsibility for that.”

Harkins said he was not surprised his team scored just eight points against the Class AA Saints — last year’s Class A State champion. He pointed out that turnovers were a key factor. The Hounds were down by two touchdowns early in the game and didn’t help themselves by turning the ball over twice on kickoffs.

Trinity’s special teams came up big on another play when R.J. Fleming returned a punt 72 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter.

“We were supposed to kick it out of bounds and we didn’t,” Harkins said. “We dropped the ball three times.”

Huntington was picked by many to compete for the MPSA Class A State Championship this season after going 9-3 in 2006.

The Hounds began the season ranked second in Class A despite being put in a tough district with the likes of Glenbrook School and Claiborne Academy and an unknown team in Cenla Christian Academy out of Pineville, La.

But now the Hounds find themselves at 1-2 after the tough loss at home to their rivals from across the Mississippi River. And it doesn’t get any easier for them as they travel to St. Joseph, La., this Friday for a key District 6-A match-up against 2-1 Tensas Academy.

After a loss in week one to Trinity, the Chiefs have played well for first-year head coach Joe Coats and find themselves right in the thick of the district race with a 2-0 mark after a 44-14 win at Tallulah Academy.

“We’ve got to get focused,” Harkins said. “Hopefully the kids will be ready. Hopefully we’ll be focused and play hard.”

Adams County Christian

The ACCS Rebels may have picked the wrong time to play Centreville last Friday night. The Tigers dropped from No. 2 to No. 5 in Class AA following a close loss at Class AAA Parklane the week before.

Centreville got back in the win column with a resounding 34-8 win over ACCS. The eight points were the first points scored by the Rebels this season. ACCS fell to 0-3 overall.

“Centreville’s well-coached and extremely talented football team,” ACCS head coach Paul Hayles said. “And they’re well deserving of their ranking in the state.”

Centreville running back Nick Goudeau had another solid performance with over 100 yards rushing, but it was the passing game of the Tigers that impressed Hayles.

“Centreville displayed a very strong passing game against us. They throw it a lot more than they used to,” Hayles said. “(Goudeau)’s an excellent runner. When they go to the power running set, it makes life tough on you.”

ACCS came out of the game without any injures and should have Braxton Gray and Audie Crosby back for Friday’s important District 3-AA game at River Oaks School. Hayles expects the Mustangs to be a very focused team after they were upset by Riverfield 21-0 last Friday night.

Centreville, 2-1 overall, will play host to Central Private School in the Tigers’ District 5-AA opener. Central Private is 3-0 overall after having to hold off Presbyterian Christian 14-8 last Friday night and 1-0 in district play

The Wilkinson County Christian Academy Rams were shut out for the second straight week after falling to No. 5 Glenbrook School 28-0 to drop to 1-2 overall and 0-2 in District 6-A. They do have a chance to get back on the winning track when they host a Claiborne Academy that has struggled this season, including a 26-6 loss to Riverdale Academy last Friday night.