NATCHEZ — In the third week of MPSA play, teams learned a lot about themselves.

For some, it was what they did well, what ideas they have been working on in practice that finally showed through in a game.

Yet other teams realized exactly what not to do and just what needs a lot more work.

Adams County Christian School had five turnovers in the first half in a 35-7 loss to Centreville, a problem coach Paul Hayles called “inexcusable.”

“We’re going to work on fundamentals,” he said of the coming week’s practices. “That’s the continued Achilles’ heel of our program right now, and we need to work on the basic fundamentals of blocking and protecting the ball.”

The Rebels also need to set up a plan for their next game against River Oaks.

Hayles said he was proud of his team for not giving up against an overpowering Centreville squad that scored 28 points in the first quarter. ACCS held the Tigers scoreless through the second half and finally got on the board in the third quarter.

“That’s one thing these kids have been diligent with, staying the course,” he said. “They’ve got a great attitude, and we’re starting to see some young leadership develop.

“That’s another thing we need to get is leadership. If it takes one of the young ones stepping up, so be it. We’ll see where it leads us.”

Sam Byrd, head coach at Wilkinson County Christian, said after two consecutive losses, his Rams’ backs are against the wall.

WCCA lost to MPSA Class-A No. 1 Glenbrook, 46-13.

“We’ve just got to learn how to finish a ballgame,” Byrd said. “If we want to make the playoffs, we’ve got to win out to stay in the hunt for the wild card.”

But Byrd said the fact that the Rams led 13-6 through most of the second quarter was encouraging.

He was also impressed with the play of quarterback George Davis, who completed 9-of-23 for 211 yards and one touchdown, and wide receiver Todd Gonda, who had four catches for 121 yards.

“It showed we are capable of playing better ball than we’re playing right now,” Byrd said. “We’ve just got to stick together.”

Huntington coach Chad Harkins learned that it is tough to compete with Class-AA speed when his Hounds were trampled by Trinity on Saturday.

“We moved the ball this week and we had a couple drives in the beginning of the game, but we fumbled the ball, and then the next drive a holding penalty backed us up,” Harkins said. “We shot ourselves in the foot there. Fortunately a lot of teams in 1-A don’t have as many weapons as (Trinity has).”

Huntington was scheduled for an off week, but will face the Slidell Christian Home Educators Fellowship (SCHEF) Patriots instead.

Trinity, meanwhile will play host to Tri-County Academy Friday in an effort to start its season 4-0.

The Saints have won their first three games by an average of 26 points, but have looked sloppy at times.

Trinity had two turnovers in its 34-12 win over Huntington and numerous penalties, especially in the first half.

Coach David King said he expects his team to continue to get better as the season goes along.

“We just want to get better each week,” King said. “We knew the games would be sloppy the first four weeks but by week seven or eight, we’ll be a very fine football team.”