NATCHEZ — When Adams County Christian head coach Paul Hayles looks back on the Rebels’ 2010 football season, one message comes to mind — hard work really does pay off.

And it did for the Rebels, who despite losing to Brookhaven Academy in the first round of the MAIS Class AA playoffs last Friday, posted an 8-4 record, which was their best in several years and a far cry from the one combined win over the 2007 and 2008 seasons.

“The season didn’t end like we wanted, but 8-4 on the season is a high mark for the group and the effort they put forth,” Hayles said. “I couldn’t be more proud of this group. It’s definitely one of those things where hard work paid off.”

Hayles took over the ACCS football program in 2007 and the team struggled to a 1-21 mark his first two seasons.

However, the Rebels improved to 6-5 last year and made the playoffs as a wild card with an 8-3 regular season record this year.

“It would have been easy for the kids to say that’s the way it is and is always going to be,” Hayles said of the 2007 and 08 seasons. “But the more you work the harder it is to give up. And once you start getting wins, it’s contagious. We built off the success of last year and were even better this year. We hope next year’s team can take it to a higher level.”

Hayles said he was proud of his senior class, which helped rebuild the foundation of the program, especially since most of them have attended the school most of their lives.

“One thing that if you look at this group and watch the graduation classes, these kids have been there their whole lives,” Hayles said. “That says a lot for the school and school system. You don’t see kids who transfer in to play a year or two of football. They are here from elementary up.”

And if there is a message this year’s team has for future teams, it is this, Hayles said.

“If you work hard and pay the price, good things happen.”