NATCHEZ — Intimidation wasn’t a factor at Bobby Marks Field Friday night.

Despite allowing a 74-yard touchdown on the second play of the game, the Adams County Christian School Rebels turned in a nearly flawless performance, reeling off 40 unanswered points, in a 40-14 win against MAIS AAAA powerhouse Jackson Academy.

“We proved that we can play with the big boys, now we have to act like it,” ACCS head coach David King said. “This is a special win. I am so happy for this team and these people.”

After a one-yard loss on the first play of scrimmage, Jackson Academy struck with Langston Anderson taking a sweep 74-yards into the end zone to give the Raiders an early 7-0 lead.

“One guy didn’t do his job on that play,” King said. “If everybody does their job, coach (Richy) Spears and I have told them we are going to be tough. One guy didn’t do his job on that play, but he never did it again. He learned from that mistake.”

A difference maker, King said, was despite an early hole, the Rebels’ heads stayed up.

“A lot of teams playing someone like that, when they go down, they fold,” King said. “We just got a little tougher.”

Toughness was the motto for the ACCS offense all night, as the Rebels marched down the field on the ensuing drive, tying the game up at seven on a one-yard touchdown run from quarterback Carlos Woods.

The Rebels wouldn’t look back from there.

On the third play of the second quarter, Chisum Mardis rumbled into the end zone from 18 yards out to give AC a 14-7 lead.

Two plays later, the Rebels found themselves back on offense, courtesy of a Shaverick Williams interception, which he returned to the Jackson Academy 5-yard line.

Three plays later, Woods was in the end zone for his second rushing touchdown, and ACCS led 21-7.

But ACCS’ defense wasn’t done. The Rebels’ ball hawking safeties, this time Richard Conn, picked off another pass, giving the Rebels the ball back and leading to another touchdown on the ensuing drive.

Woods found George Scott for the first of their two touchdown connections, this one from 37-yards out, to give ACCS a 27-7 lead going into halftime.

Despite the 20-point lead, King knew it wasn’t home free for the Rebels just yet.

“I’ve been in so many games, and there is something about three touchdowns as opposed to four,” he said. “When you’re down three touchdowns and have tradition like they do, you aren’t worried. You get down four, and it just changes your mind.”

The Rebels were quick to change the Raiders mind out of halftime, because on the fourth play of the half, Mardis scampered for a 59-yard touchdown run to give the Rebels a commanding 33-7 lead.

“I had been seeing it all night and coach King finally called it,” said Mardis of the touchdown play. “Christopher White, our fullback, made an awesome block on the end and it was wide open. I was giving it all I could then.”

Mardis led the rushing charge for ACCS with 110 yards on 13 carries.

The Rebels capped their scoring late in the third quarter when Woods found Scott again, this time from 38-yards out to push the lead to 40-7.

Woods finished with 177 passing yards completing nine of his 11 passes.

“He just looks like he is in control,” said King of Woods. “I’ve scaled back a lot of things, but he just looks like he is in control of the offense.”

Scott was the Rebels’ leading receiver with 130 yards on six receptions.

Jackson Academy tacked on a late fourth quarter touchdown, with backups in for both teams to finish with 14 points.

Although King and his team are elated with a win, the head coach knows the importance of moving forward.

“I’ve never been one that knows how to appreciate this because I’m going to go and watch Bowling Green,” King said.