NATCHEZ — The Adams County Christian School football team is off to a slow start this season, but one bright spot for the Rebels is the play of freshman Lester Wells.

Wells was brought up from the junior varsity earlier in the season, after ACCS (1-5) suffered a rash of injuries in its offensive backfield. Wells has made some big plays for the Rebels’ offense, including a 42-yard reception in Friday night’s 48-6 loss to Trinity.

Wells also led the Rebels in rushing Friday night with 61 yards on 12 carries.

“I thought for a freshman (Wells) played real well,” ACCS head coach Hunter McKeivier said. “We asked a good bit of him, asking him to be able to carry the ball at a young age. He’s still having a little problem with fumbles, but he’s a ‘yes sir, no sir,’ type of kid, and he always tries to help the team.”

Although Wells’ performance was not enough to help ACCS beat a talented Trinity team, McKeivier said he sees potential when he looks at Wells.

“He’s still real young and inexperienced, and he’s still making a lot of young mistakes,” he said. “But I’m very pleased with what he’s done so far. He will continue to get better as he gains more experience over the years.

“The sky is the limit for him if he can continue the hard work.”

McKeivier said Wells is receiving help from some of the upperclassmen on the team this season.

“The other backs are really helping him out,” he said. “(Christopher) Perry and Johnny Smith are helping him out with some things.”

McKeivier said having Wells provides him another weapon to use offensively.

“We try to spread out the ball as evenly as we can, so we don’t have one person that everybody is watching,” he said. “Every running back and wide receiver on the team has a skill they do well, and we try to use that skill. We used Wells and (Cody) White as wing backs (against Trinity), and tried to use them to the best of their ability to spread out the field.”

Like Wells, Franklin County’s Fred Coleman did it all for the Bulldogs in their 20-18 win over Lawrence County Friday night.

Coleman ran for 57 yards on 11 carries and one touchdown. He also caught two passes for 99 yards and two touchdowns.

It was those two passing plays that separated Franklin County from Lawrence County in the tight match-up.

Both teams ran the ball well, with the Bulldogs rushing for 187 yards and the Cougars rushing for 186. But Franklin County quarterback Jadarius Davis was able to connect with Coleman on a 22-yard pass to end the first half and then a 77-yarder nine minutes into the third quarter to give the Bulldogs just enough points to win.

The two completions were Davis’ only two of the night on six attempts for the run-oriented Bulldogs.

“We were doing very good running the ball,” Franklin County coach Rickey O’Quinn said. “They stacked the box and forced us to throw the football. Jadarius Davis made the throws and Coleman made great catches.”

Lawrence County completed one of its two passes for just 14 yards.

Franklin County (4-2) will open Region 7-3A play this week against Wilkinson County (3-2).

Wilkinson County will head into that match-up after beating Ferriday 22-20 Friday.