NATCHEZ — Natchez was well represented this year on the MAIS District 5-AA All-District football teams as 23 players from either Trinity Episcopal or Adams County Christian School received postseason honors.

The top honor went to Trinity’s Tip McKenzie. McKenzie was named MAIS All-District 5-AA Most Valuable Player. The versatile athlete scored 32 touchdowns for the Saints this year, while rushing for 631 yards, catching 35 passes for more than 1,000 yards and also piling up 758 return yards.

“I thought I had a great year and put up pretty good numbers,” McKenzie said. “It was nice to get in the record books.”

McKenzie said he will remember this team for its toughness. McKenzie said he will also remember having the opportunity to throw the pass that led to his brother Trae McKenzie’s first high school touchdown.

McKenzie was not the only Trinity player honored, however, as six members of the team were named First-Team All-District. Seniors Chance Fenn, Zack Wilson, Jake Winston, Scott Turner and Terrence Hunter made the team, as well as junior Tanner Cage.

“We had a lot of seniors, and I was glad to see them get All-District,” head coach David King said. “We obviously knew we had an outstanding class when they were coming up. We fell a game short of our goals, but they are really good players. We’ll be losing a highly successful class.”

Wilson played offensive and defensive tackle for the Saints this season, and King said he was one of the best defensive linemen he has ever coached. King said he was impressed with the way Wilson improved over his career.

Winston played wide receiver, safety and kicker, and King said he brought versatility to the team.

“Jake was a do-it-all guy for us,” King said. “He punted, kicked and was a steady wide receiver and defensive back.”

Hunter was recognized as a first-team player despite injuring his knee during the season.

“Terrence was one of the best tackles I’ve coached,” King said. “He was a three-year starter and a big part of our success. Losing him to an ACL tear was tough.”

King said Fenn, who played offensive guard, was a player he loved to coach. He said Fenn was a hard worker who continued to improve throughout his career.

Cage was the only underclassman to be named to the first-team from Trinity, and King said Cage has huge potential.

“Tanner has the chance to be a very special football player,” he said.

ACCS put four players on the first-team, and head coach Hunter McKeivier said the honors the players received can be used as tools to motivate.

“Any award is an accomplishment for these kids,” he said. “It’s important for the kids to understand that the hard work they put in can reciprocate into awards at the end of they year.”

Unlike Trinity, ACCS had several underclassmen honored.

Sophomore Brandon Ross, junior Tristan Beach and freshman Lester Wells joined senior Christopher Perry on the first-team for ACCS.

Ross and Beach were both middle linebackers for the Rebels, and they had a competition to see which one could finish with more tackles. Ross won the competition, but both earned postseason honors.

“Brandon Ross was a key (for the defense),” McKeivier said. “I look for big things to come in the future. (Beach) started out at outside linebacker but after the first couple of games we moved him to inside. He’s got the instincts and is more of a speed guy. He also has a little bit of an attitude when he meets guys in the hole.”

Wells led ACCS in rushing and touchdowns as a freshman, and McKeivier said there will be more to come from the young running back.

“Lester is going to be a tremendous talent,” he said. “He is a talented athlete who can run and jump. He’s a non-stop hard worker that doesn’t question anything, he’s just about getting the job done.”

Perry served a similar role for the Rebels as Winston did for the Saints, but Perry’s skills focused more on power than speed.

“Perry did a bit of everything,” McKeivier said. “Offensively he was the blue-collar-type lead blocker, who didn’t care how many carries he had.”

McKeivier said on defense Perry was able to pressure the quarterback and stop the run.

ACCS added two players to the Second-Team All-District Team in senior quarterback Johnnie Smith and junior lineman Garrett Keating. McKeivier said Smith provided leadership this season, while Keating is a big player that is quick for his size. Smith was chosen as an all-purpose athlete.

Trinity’s Joseph McClatchy, Frazier Hogan, Peyton Young and Sky Logan were chosen as members of the Second-Team All-District Team for 2011.

Junior defensive backs Cody Rhinehart and Tyler Buckles were chosen as honorable mentions, and McKeivier said having both of those players come back will provide consistency to the defensive backfield next season.

McKeivier said the number of underclassmen chosen for All-District bodes well for next season.

Trinity had four honorable mentions in Trae McKenzie, Caleb Gillespie, Carter Smith and Caleb Cross.

Hunter and Tip McKenzie were also honored as members of the All-MAIS team as well. Tip McKenzie as chosen as a first-team wide receiver, while Hunter was named second-team offensive lineman.

King said it is a credit to the Trinity program to have so many players recognized.

“When you have the success we’ve had you get All-District players,” he said. “It’s great to have other coaches be complimentary of our team.”