NATCHEZ — After a 1-0 start to its district season, Adams County Christian looks to improve to 2-0 tonight as it hosts Central Private School from Baker, La.

ACCS head coach Paul Hayles said it was good to be home this week, but Central Private is a team the Rebels cannot afford to overlook.

“They’re a well-coached running team that can also play-action pass the ball well,” Hayles said.

“They’re heavier on the run, about 60-40 percent run-pass based on what we’ve seen on film, but they’re good at both. They get you going one way, and then they bring it back the other way.”

Hayles said Central Private (3-4, 2-0) likes to go with a running back by committee, and all four runners bring something to the table for them.

“They have a big kid that’s 220 pounds and is a downhill runner. They also have two running backs that like to run off the tackle and bounce outside,” Hayles said.

“They also have a fullback that’s a power runner and a very good receiver out of the backfield. You expect him to play to contact because of all the action they do with the traps, but then he goes by the defender and catches the ball in the flats.”

At 6-1 on the year, the Rebels have gotten off to their best start in quite some time, matching last year’s win total. Hayles said the team has done a good job gradually getting better over the course of several offseasons.

“When we first got here, we knew that installing the weight-lifting during the summer and working on strength in all aspects of the game was what we needed to be successful,” Hayles said.

“It all boils down to what you do during the offseason. During the season, the cards will fall where they may, because there are a lot of things that happen that you can’t control. We just try to do the best with what we have.”

That’s a mindset that Hayles called “simple,” but it’s allowed his players to form their own identity, he said.

“We won’t do things that don’t fit our talent. We’ve got some good runners, so there’s no sense lining up with five wideouts. We stay within our talent, and that’s a pretty good formula for success.”

Tonight’s game at ACCS will kick off at 7.