NATCHEZ — After a home-and-home series between Adams County Christian School and Trinity Episcopal Day School the past two seasons, the Rebels and the Saints will have to put their rivalry on hold.

With Trinity’s move down to MAIS Single A after the most recent realignment, the Saints’ coaching staff opted not to schedule ACCS for the coming season.

Fall football schedules were finalized Thursday by the MAIS scheduling committee, and Trinity head coach Josh Loy said the decision not to schedule ACCS came down to a numbers crunch.

“Our numbers right now are down, and we’re looking at scheduling more Single A schools and smaller Double A (schools),” Loy said.

“Obviously, with all the coaches that are over there right now (that left) here, it’s changed the dynamics of the rivalry, so we’re going to take two years off at this point and go from there.”

ACCS athletic director Rick Fife said the school requested Trinity be on its schedule, but he understood Loy’s reasoning for wanting to suspend the annual matchup.

“In the past, we’ve played on and off, so it hasn’t been a year-in and year-out kind of deal,” Fife said. “We’re kind of disappointed, but at the same time, I understand. They’re Single A and we’re Double A. You want to play the in-town schools if possible, it just didn’t work out.”

Rebels head coach David King declined to comment on the rivalry’s hiatus. ACCS will still play Centreville Academy, and it added Wilkinson County Christian Academy to its schedule this fall.