CLINTON — Centreville head coach Bill Hurst and his football team were reunited with a familiar friend Friday afternoon at Mississippi College — the state championship trophy.

After losing to Simpson Academy 20-7 last year in the MAIS AA state championship game, the Tigers were eager to make another run for the title, and they did, culminating in a 35-21 win against Adams County Christian School at Mississippi College.

The win gives Hurst his ninth state championship as the head man at Centreville.

“This was a war from start to finish,” Hurst said. “That team was well prepared, and they did a great job. It was nip and tuck. We couldn’t relax, they have so many athletes.”

And the Tigers didn’t relax, jumping out to a big lead, and eventually holding off a late surge from the Rebels.

“This game is everything,” Centreville running back Tyler Caston said. “We’ve been thinking about this since last year when we lost to Simpson, but we knew we would come back.”

The opportunity to have another shot at being top dog, Caston said, was one he was glad to have.

“Most people don’t get that chance, but luckily we did,” he said. “We fought hard all year for this.”

On the other side of the field was ACCS, who finished the season 12-2 and were making their first appearance in the state championship game since 1982.

Despite coming up short, ACCS head coach David King was pleased with the passion his team played with in the game.

“I saw a great deal of effort,” King said. “I’m proud to bring our school to this level, and hopefully we can stay there for a while.”

Some tears were shed on the ACCS sideline after the game, but ultimately, the Rebels were able to make it to where the wanted to be all season.

“We all worked hard, and this is where we wanted to be,” ACCS wide receiver Trey Fleming said. “But we just didn’t pull it off.”

Centreville jumped out to a 21-point lead on the Rebels, but ACCS was able to put up 14 unanswered to pull within seven in the fourth quarter.

However, the Tigers were able to eventually put the game away on a touchdown late in the fourth quarter and walked away with the golden football raised above their heads.