NATCHEZ — The Adams County Christian School football team has the nice advantage of morning workouts for its summer conditioning.

Head coach Paul Hayles said with many of his players also having jobs, the morning workouts allow the players to work while still getting into shape for the upcoming season.

It’s also nice not having to worry about the heat of the day, either, Hayles added.

“We do everything we can to work with our players (as far as the job situation goes),” Hayles said. “This year is unique in that all of our workouts are in the morning, and that’s a good thing. The kids have responded well.

“We can get a great workout in, and we don’t have to worry about the high heat. When it gets closer to the season, we will start to get into that more.”

Hayles said the focal point early in the summer workouts are muscle memory and strength.

“We go out and do cardio, then finish with muscle memory,” Hayles said. “It’s a necessary evil, and not everyone wants to do that with their summer, but that’s why not everyone plays.”

Hayles said muscle memory drills help improve his players’ speed and reaction time when they’re playing.

“You’re basically trying to make the body work through fatigue,” Hayles said. “You’re trying to train your muscles to where it’s a reflex instead of a thought process. When you have an athlete reacting instead of thinking, that’s when you gain something. It helps them develop their speed.”

Hayles said he’s been pleased overall with the way his team has responded to the challenges the coaches have given the players.

“We maxed out (with our lifting) toward the end of the school year about a month ago, and we’ve maxed again recently,” Hayles said. “Our (40-yard dash) times are getting better, and we’re getting the results. Of course, what you get is what you put in.”

The Rebels only have seven seniors returning, and Hayles said he realizes this year’s team will be younger than the previous two seasons.

“We open up against what people are saying is one of the best Cathedral teams in 15 years,” Hayles said. “We knew that when we signed on, and we don’t run from a challenge. Our mindset is simple: We’re going to do the best we can no matter who we play.”

Senior two-way lineman Kevin Campbell said turnout has been very good so far for ACCS’ summer workouts.

“From my eighth- and ninth-grade year until now, we went from having 10 high school players work out to 20 to 25 high schoolers work out,” Campbell said.

For Campbell, improving upper body strength and footwork is what he’s working on the most, he said. As a senior leader, Campbell said he’s trying to set an example for both the younger and less-experienced players.

“I’m one of only two players that has been playing since my seventh-grade year,” he said. “I’m mainly just trying to help the newer guys learn the system and know how to do certain things.”

Campbell also said he’s been asking God for His guidance for this coming season.

“God’s helped us out tremendously,” Campbell said. “I’ve been praying hard, and I give all the glory to Him for everything.”