NATCHEZ — When fall camp kicks off today, Trinity Episcopal Day School head coach Josh Loy will have some puzzle pieces to sort out.

The Saints have several positions still up for grabs heading into the season, and Loy said there are also several players for whom the coaches are still trying to find roles.

“The big thing is, we have some new faces, and we’re trying to figure out where we’re going to put them,” Loy said. “That’s not going to be done in the first week, but through the scrimmage and jamboree. Hopefully by the first week, we’re going to get all the pieces in the right place.”

Today marks the end of summer workouts, in which area teams focused on strength and conditioning. Loy said the time spent in the weight room and doing conditioning drills has left him pleased — especially since he didn’t have the luxury of a full summer last year.

“I thought it went really well,” Loy said. “Last year, we had some tough circumstances. Being able to have a full summer with the guys, they know our expectations. We worked on the passing game and things like that, and I thought it was very productive.”

Open positions include finding another starter on the offensive line, as well as determining the starter at one of the linebacker positions, Loy said.

While public schools don’t begin practice until next week — and Louisiana schools not until Aug. 12 — Loy said he’s happy to have a few extra days to prepare.

“The players are tired of being in the weight room, doing conditioning drills and what little you can do with 7-on-7s,” Loy said. “They’re ready for something different. The more days we can get in, the better. It gets us prepared.”

Up first for Trinity this season is Cenla Christian Academy, but Loy said his team wouldn’t begin game planning for Cenla until around the final week of practice.

Adams County Christian School

ACCS head football coach David King has given himself an ultimatum: Make sure the team tackles better, or you’re fired.

King lamented his team’s inability to stop big plays last season as he talked about the focus of his squad headed into the first day of fall practice today.

“Obviously, if we don’t tackle better, I’m firing everyone involved with this program,” King said. “We just got to where we couldn’t tackle anyone, and that’s just unacceptable. We’re going to spend a lot of time working on that.”

While King may have summoned his inner George Steinbrenner, he did say he was pleased with how summer workouts went for the team.

“I think they were back to what I’m used to them being like,” King said. “Last year was a little culture shock, but we knew it would be. This year, the kids know the expectations, and they’ve risen to them. I couldn’t be more pleased.”

King said he doesn’t expect the players to get too bored with having a few more days than the public schools do to practice.

“The times have changed; football is a year-round sport,” King said. “It’s such a full-year thing in high school, there isn’t going to be a difference in a couple of days if you run a good summer workout program.”

King said every position is open for competition heading into the fall.

“After what I saw last year, there’s not a coaching position or playing position that’s safe,” he said.

And unlike Trinity, King said his team began game-planning for its opener against Wilkinson County Christian Academy two weeks ago.

“We’re not good enough to take anybody for granted,” King said.