Silliman scores two TDs in final 3:15 to upset ACCS in MAIS District 3-5A shootout

Published 11:23 pm Friday, September 27, 2024

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NATCHEZ — Silliman Institute junior running back Isaac Garba scored the third of his three rushing touchdowns from two yards out with just 14 seconds left as the Wildcats rallied to upset the Adams County Christian School Rebels 41-35 on Friday night.

It was ACCS’s annual “Pink Out Game” at Bobby Marks Stadium as players, cheerleaders, and dance team members, honored family members who are battling or have battled cancer. And especially with Breast Cancer Awareness Month starting next Tuesday, this game was a way to way to raise awareness for breast cancer.

It was a key MAIS District 3-5A game for two teams looking to stay with Parklane Academy in the district standings. Unfortunately for ACCS, for the second year in a row Silliman Institute got the better of the Rebels.

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“Silliman outplayed us and they got the win,” Rebels assistant coach Matthew Freeman said. “I would say that everyone played well enough for us to win tonight. We just didn’t win tonight.”

ACCS senior quarterback Coleman Carter went 10-for-19 passing for 219 yards and three touchdowns. He also led the team in rushing with 107 yards, which included a 62-yard TD run on a fumbled snap early in the third quarter that made it a 21-20 game in Silliman’s favor. But the try for two on a run was no good and the Rebels still trailed at the 11:27 mark of that quarter.

CJ Ferguson had four catches for 100 yards, which included a 59-yard touchdown pass from Carter just 1:11 into the ball game. Carter then threw a 58-yard TD pass to Colton Rabb with 5:41 left in the first quarter.

Silliman answered with a pair of touchdowns of its own to tie the game at 14-all with 6:49 left until halftime. Special teams played a big part in the outcome as Evan Wiley returned the opening kickoff to start the third quarter 74 yards for a touchdown to give the Wildcats a 21-14 lead just 12 seconds into the second half.

That started a wild second half in which the two teams combined to score seven touchdowns – five in the fourth quarter alone. But it was the Wildcats who responded after Adrian Walker’s 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown which occurred with 6:22 remaining.

Parker Nettles, who transferred to Silliman from Centreville Academy earlier this year, threw a 12-yard TD pass to Kevin Windham Jr. with 3:15 left. Then after an ACCS punt gave Silliman great field position at their own 45-yard line, the Wildcats marched down the field for the winning score to go 4-2 overall and 1-1 in district play.

ACCS (5-2, 2-1) travels to McComb to take on Parklane Academy in a pivotal district game for the Rebels next Friday at 7 p.m.