The Natchez Falcons youth football team were treated to a special surprise Monday as three Natchez High School standouts stopped by the team’s practice.

Rising seniors Shavoké Herrington, Chris Scott and E.J. Woods spent the evening demonstrating proper technique in helping spread their knowledge of the game to the Falcons.

“This is just making the high school better. We want all these kids to stay in the public school and go to the high school,” Woods said. “We’re making our program better by starting them young.”

Woods, Herrington and Scott are all alumni of the Natchez Falcons teams having started with the program when they played for the 6-8-year-old team.

“It means a lot,” Natchez Falcons Director Darryl Smith said. “They were the first ones to make the championship games out of (Mississippi Youth Sports Association). I’m just super proud of them and glad they’re coming back to help the kids out.”

The Falcons, who compete in the Premier Youth Sports Association, field teams in three separate age groups ranging from 6 to 12 years old.

Woods said his close relationship with both Scott and Herrington started when the trio donned the Natchez Falcons uniform as kids.

“That’s why our chemistry is so strong, not only on the field but also off the field,” Woods said. “We always stuck together since the Falcons days.”

The Natchez Falcons will begin their regular seasons in August. Woods said if Monday’s session is any indication, the Falcons are in good shape come next month.

“This is fun. I used to like it when the high school players used to come help us out,” he said. “That made us better.”