NATCHEZ &045; Enough with the aches and pains.

District play opens up Friday for the Adams Christian Rebels, who will still be without a number of key starters when they travel to Bastrop, La., to take on Prairie View. But excuses have never gotten anyone a win, and they aren’t expecting that tactic to start working this week.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. as MPSA squads enter Week 4.

&uot;We’re not healthy, but we’re healthier,&uot; AC head coach Keith Walters said. &uot;Maybe our luck is going to turn a little. Hopefully we’ll get (everyone) back next week. This is a big one for us. We’ll see if we’re mentally tough to go on the road for two hours and play. You know we haven’t left Natchez. I’ve been (to Prairie View) before. It’s a hard place to play.&uot;

The injury situation got a little better this week, although no really good news is expected until next week. Receiver-defensive back Ray Simpson went to the doctor Tuesday for his knee is will not play Friday, and defensive lineman Eric Perry went to the doctor for a separated shoulder and will not play.

The good news is linebacker-fullback Joey Wilson practiced on Monday after sitting out the second half Friday with ice on a knee. And better news was that the Rebels played better on defense as the game went on, even when Wilson exited.

&uot;I thought we were better defensively,&uot; Walters said. &uot;And that was without Joey. The game was only 14-0 at half. It could have been easy for our guys to quit. I thought we came out and competed in the second half.&uot;

The Rebels’ defense &045; now in a eight-man front package with three defensive backs due to the injuries &045; will prepare for a Prairie View team that has been throwing the ball a good bit this season. The Spartans struggled last season but returned most of their players on both sides of the ball this season.

While defense is a concern &045; just like it has been this season and seasons past &045; Walters knows the offense needs to get back in a rhythm. The Rebels scored just one touchdown in the last six quarters, and that came in a little dump pass that Heath Williams broke for a score.

&uot;We’re still running people around back there (on defense), but we don’t have any choice,&uot; Walters said. &uot;I think the real key is to get back on track offensively. We really struggled against Parklane.&uot;

Trinity Episcopal at Silliman

The Saints are still down to 12 varsity players, still skating on thin ice as far as injuries are concerned but still giving it everything they’ve got.

The Saints played well last week against a solid Oak Forest team, trailing 8-0 with six minutes left in the contest. And even with the normal bumps and bruises of playing a good team like that, Trinity has to suck it up and prepare for Silliman.

&uot;We don’t have time for the pain, as Carly Simon used to say,&uot; Trinity head coach David King said. &uot;They were a very good ball club, and we hung in there with them. I was very pleased with how they played. It’s going to be more of the same this week. It’s going to be like this all season long.&uot;

The Saints didn’t score against the Yellow Jackets, but it’s against teams like those when your yards-per-game average comes down. The Saints will try to get back against the Wildcats, who were dropped 41-12 last week against a good Centreville team.

The Wildcats may be down a bit, but no one at Trinity is taking them lightly.

&uot;They played the No. 1 and No. 5 teams in the state,&uot; King said. &uot;They’re a lot better ball club than their record indicates. If our group continues to play as hard as they did, we’ll be satisfied as a coaching staff.&uot;

Huntington at Franklin

FERRIDAY, La. &045; The injury epidemic officially crossed the river this week as the Hounds are having to play without starting quarterback Huston Eliser, who will be out for at least two weeks with a MCL strain.

Jacob Bonnette is out with an injury and is out sick, and the Hounds practiced Thursday with 13 players. Hunter Norwood will replace Eliser at quarterback.

&uot;We were kind of rag-tag today,&uot; Huntington head coach Bo Swilley said. &uot;The kids who were there today worked hard, but it’s just injuries. Hunter has always gotten reps. I wouldn’t consider it a dropoff, but what it does is it takes a good athlete in Huston off the field. You’re less of a team because of the loss of an athlete.&uot;

The Hounds will try to get their first district win Friday against the Cougars, who have the increased numbers this fall following the closing of Crowville High School. The Cougars hammered Plain Dealing last week.

&uot;We haven’t played to our potential yet,&uot; Swilley said. &uot;We haven’t played as good as I think we can play at all. We’ve got to come out and play hard and take care of the football.&uot;

Briarfield at Tensas

ST. JOSEPH, La. &045; The Chiefs will host Briarfield in their district opener after most everyone else in the district opened last week.

The Chiefs have put up the points so far &045; 138 in three games &045; despite some turnover problems, including three fumbles last week.

WCCA at Riverfield

WOODVILLE &045; The Rams will likely have back Collin Dor at quarterback after the starter came off the bench in last week’s loss to Tallulah Academy.

The Rams could use the spark on offense. They’ve scored just 32 points so far.

Columbia at Centreville

CENTREVILLE &045; It’s a rematch for the Tigers against Columbia, the team that put together a solid regular season in 2003.

Now it’s Centreville’s turn with its 16 seniors and loads of talent. The Tigers drummed rival Silliman last week, 41-12.