NATCHEZ — Scoring touchdowns wasn’t the problem for Adams County Christian School at homecoming Friday night.

It was preventing Silliman Institute from also scoring touchdowns that did the Rebels in.

A touchdown catch by Silliman with 1:56 to go in the game gave Silliman a 49-42 lead, which the Wildcats would hold on to. It was a frustrating loss for ACCS, as the Rebels had taken a 42-41 lead with 2:18 left on a 5-yard run by Lester Wells.

“We went ahead with two minutes to go, and they scored a touchdown on the very next play,” ACCS head coach David King said.

Despite outstanding performances by Wells and Trey Fleming — both had more than 200 yards rushing — the Rebels simply couldn’t slow down Silliman enough to come away with a homecoming win.

“Our kids, they kept playing every play,” King said. “The better team won, but our boys played their hearts out. Our inability to stop people has been our problem, and we haven’t been able to solve it. We’re giving up a lot of points.”

Wells had 210 yards on 29 carries while Fleming was just one shy with 209 yards on 23 rushes. Both of them accounted for all six of ACCS’s touchdowns.

Fleming scored first on a 5-yard run with 6:03 left in the first quarter. He had a 65-yard touchdown reception from Brandon Ross with 7:50 to go in the second quarter.

Wells scored his first touchdown with 4:09 to go in the third on a 79-yard punt return. Fleming added touchdown runs of 14 and 16 yards in the fourth quarter.

Ross finished 1-for-6 in passing for 65 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Fleming was 3-for-8 in passing with minus-3 yards.

King said his team’s defense has had some tough growing pains, but his players should be better in the long run because of it.

“We have two eighth graders and a ninth grader in the (defensive) backfield because of injuries,” King said. “That’s not an excuse, it’s just part of the hand we’re dealt. (Oak Forest) had a couple of athletes that could make plays.”

With district games against Brookhaven and Columbia academies rounding out the Rebels’ schedule, King said he and his players would try hard to get the seniors a win or two.

“That’s all we can do at this point,” King said. “Though the scores don’t show it, I feel like we’ve improved in a lot of areas. I just want us to keep doing that.”

ACCS (3-6, 0-1) will host Brookhaven Academy next Friday.