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NATCHEZ — Despite playing much of the second half on a gimpy ankle, Adams County Christian School quarterback Coleman Carter threw three touchdown passes as the Rebels defeated the Simpson Academy Cougars 28-14 last Friday night at Bobby Marks Stadium.

In a rematch of last year’s MAIS Class 5A state championship game won by ACCS, both teams struggled to move the ball for much of the first three quarters. In fact, the first points scored were by the Rebels’ defense when Braden Poole tackled one of the Cougars’ running backs in the end zone for a safety with 10:27 left in the second quarter. Thirteen seconds later, AJ Givens scored on a five-yard run. However, the extra point was no good and the Rebels led 8-0 — which, surprisingly, was still the score at halftime.

Then with 5:15 left in the third quarter, Carter connected with Cedric Owens on a 15-yard TD pass to give ACCS a 15-0 lead. The Rebels expanded that lead to 21-0 on Carter’s 17-yard touchdown pass to JC Ferguson, who had a team-leading 116 yards on four catches, with 10:31 left in the ball game.

However, the Cougars would not go away quietly. Brady McKenney hooked up with Chanse Funchess on an 18-yard TD pass with 6:20 left to make it a 21-7 game. It then appeared that the Rebels had put the game away on Carter’s 48-yard TD pass to Colton Rabb with 5:18 left.

But Simpson Academy struck again, this time on McKenney’s 28-yard TD pass to the tall McKenney just 13 seconds later to make it a 28-14 game.

But a punt by Carter late in the game gave the Cougars bad field position at their own 13-yard line. Ja’Coby Gaines on a desperation heave by McKenney finally put the game on ice.

Carter completed 13 of 27 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns and one interception. Rabb had one catch for 48 yards while Owens had four receptions for 81 yards. Sean Kerry Cothern was the Rebels’ leading rusher with 34 yards on 10 carries.

Kentrell Stampley had a team-leading 11 tackles and AJ Givens had seven tackles. Cothern as well as Cam Woodard had six tackles each. Ferguson had one interception and one fumble recovery while Parker Roach had one interception.

ACCS (3-1) next plays at Brookhaven Academy in the Rebels’ MAIS District 3-5A opener next Friday at 7 p.m.