NATCHEZ — Twelve-year-old Fred Givens experienced a state championship run last year, and now it’s his goal to help lead his team back to the finals.

Givens, an offensive and defensive lineman for the Natchez Falcons A team, said he recalls last year’s loss to the Jackson Redskins in the Mississippi Youth Sports Association 11- and 12-year-old state championship game. For returning players like him, getting back and coming out on top is the Falcon’s ultimate goal.

“It’s motivating us, but some of the them are new (to the team),” Givens said of his teammates. “We’re having to teach them the basic fundamental skills of football.”

The A team has gotten off to a slow start this year, winning its first game last weekend to improve to 1-2. The Falcons’ B and C teams, on the other hand, have yet to win a game three weeks into the season. For all three squads, the focus has been fundamentals and improving each game.

“We really need to go out there, do our best and play hard, like we want to win,” Givens said.

Teammate Jahiem Ivory, a running back and linebacker, said practices have been tougher since he moved up to the A team this season. But he said the players have learned some things that will hopefully help them score.

“We got some new plays that could get us down the field,” Ivory said.

Ivory also said he’s picking up a few things from his older teammates.

“They’re teaching us to keep our head up and run hard when we go down the field so we can get in shape for the fourth quarter,” he said. “Otherwise, we’ll be tired and stuff.”

B team head coach Darryl Smith said his team was focusing on fundamentals, which will hopefully lead to his 9- and 10-year-olds winning their first game this weekend.

“There are a lot of new kids out here that aren’t used to playing against different people,” Smith said. “They’re used to playing against their friends. They get nervous versus new kids, but if they get used to it, it’ll get some of that fear out of them.”

Though his team is winless, Smith said he’s not worried about records early in the season.

“Most of the time, we get off to a slow start,” Smith said. “We usually pick it up as the season goes on.”

Dennis Davis is in charge of teaching the C team, which consists of children ages 6 through 8. He said many of the players are playing football for the first time.

“It’s a lot of work,” Davis admitted. “Some of them don’t know how to put a helmet and shoulder pads on, but they’ll learn and get better.”

The most important thing teaching children that young is sportsmanship and the proper way to tackle, Davis said.

“You have to lead with your shoulder pads and not your head,” he said.

The Falcons will play at home Saturday vs. the Jackson Steelers.