NATCHEZ — When Adams County Christian School’s football team members pushed their way into the MAIS Class AAA State Championship last month, senior Dawson Parker said he felt right at home on the field.

Parker is the “go to,” student at ACCS whenever a teacher or staff member needs help carrying a box or other heavy labor, he said.

Being in the great outdoors and working hard is more than just a kind deed for him — it’s his passion, he said.

“When I’m hanging out with my friends I’m always doing something outdoors,” Parker said, “whether it’s hunting or playing sports.”

Parker plays as at linebacker, tight end and fullback for the ACCS football team and recently had the privilege of helping the team bring home the championship against Indianola Academy.

Parker said he was determined to give it his all at every game in the season, especially the championship.

“I’d tell (my team), think about what would happen in the end if we were to give everything that we have at that moment,” he said.

Parker said sports are his biggest passion apart from his family and friends. However, being a successful athlete is not without its challenges, he said.

“Sports make me happy,” he said. “The happiest part is just being there. The biggest hurdle is just making it to success, making it to the championship or being noticed while playing.”

Parker is also the senior class representative at ACCS and enjoys science and history above all other subjects because he loves learning new things about the world — both past and present — he said.

He is the son of Leslie Parker and the late Larry Parker Jr. and is the stepson of Jeffery Ross.

When he graduates, Parker said he plans to study agriculture at Louisiana Tech University and start a career in the environment he loves most, out in the field and underneath the open sky.

“I live in a cornfield,” Parker said, with a laugh. “It’s always enjoyable. Ever since I was little I’ve always been outside. It’s just comforting to put the phone away and do something.”