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FLOWOOD — Jackson Preparatory School quarterback Parker Puckett accounted for four total touchdowns, two passing and two rushing, as the MAIS Class 6A No. 1 ranked Patriots defeated the defending Class 5A state champion Adams County Christian School Rebels 37-7 last Friday night.

Puckett completed six of eight passes for 132 yards, including touchdown passes of 25 yards to J.E. Maddux at the 9:03 mark of the first quarter and 44 yards to a wide-open Gardner Young early in the second quarter. He was also picked off twice, once by Ja’Coby Gaines and the other by Parker Road.

Puckett also had touchdown runs of 11 and 20 yards in the first half, the second of which gave Jackson Prep (2-0) a commanding 28-0 lead.

Yet despite the loss, ACCS assistant coach Matthew Freeman said he was pleased with the effort the Rebels showed against one of the elite programs in the state and last year’s Class 6A state runner-up.

“They didn’t lay down. They didn’t give up. We just didn’t play our best football. Jackson Prep had a lot to do with that,” Freeman said.

And while the Rebels at times were able to move the ball some, quarterback Coleman Carter was under heavy pressure against the Patriots’ array of blitzes. Despite being under pressure for much of the game, Carter still completed 16 of 28 passes for 188 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions.

“He played well. They blitzed all night. He made some good reads and some good throws,” Freeman said. “They’re a really good football program.”

Jackson Prep took a 37-0 lead into halftime, which meant a running clock would be used for the entire second half. ACCS finally got on the scoreboard at the 4:51 mark of the third quarter on Carter’s 30-yard touchdown pass to Colton Rabb. Caleb Daugherty added the extra point.

AJ Givens led the Rebels in receiving with two catches for 47 yards. Tristan Burns had five catches for 86 yards, Rabb had four receptions for 51 yards, and CJ Ferguson had four catches for 35 yards.

Defensively, Braden Poole led the way with seven tackles while Gaines had five tackles. Riley Roach and Sean Kerry Cothern had four tackles each. Givens had one interception off backup quarterback Luke Essary. Leeland Floyd had one sack.

“We’ll look to build off this game and get ready for Simpson Academy,” Freeman said.

ACCS (2-1) plays host to Simpson Academy in a rematch of last year’s Class 5A state championship game for the Rebels’ Military Appreciation Game next Friday at 7 p.m.