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Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat

Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat

Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat

Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat

Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat

Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat

ACCS Julian Wilson lunges for extra yardage. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)

Cade Wells attempts to break from a tackler. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)

With 5 minutes left in the game, Adams County Christian School’s Cade Wells put a dagger into the heart of Greenville-St. Joseph’s state title hopes when he broke out of Jacob Nelson’s clutches en route to a 53-yard touchdown.

The Rebels, who ultimately won the MAIS Class AAA semifinal state playoff game 36-20, could be heard on the sideline at that point saying, “We are going to state.”

“Guts. Heart. Stamina. Strength. Speed,” ACCS coach David King said. “And some damn good coaching.

“That was a great football team. We try to be modest in these situations, but we are going to state.”

People see what happens on Friday

night, but King said fans don’t see what happens Monday through Thursday. King said he and his other coaches work them hard, and the student-athletes buy into the program.

“We want them to have memories like this when they are old fat men like me,” King said. “We are having an incredible run here at ACCS.”

Senior George Scott said two years ago ACCS went to the state finals, and going back is going to be great.

“I am pumped up, beyond pumped,” he said. “My senior year, going back to state, it feels real good.

“As a team, we have this saying, ‘One heartbeat.’ We got through. We played all four quarters. It is awesome.”

Greenville began the scoring on the first play of the first drive with quarterback Brice Johnson completing a pass to running back E’darius Hendrix, who took it all the way for an 80-yard touchdown. Payton Long missed the kick.

ACCS answered on the ensuing kickoff, with Julian Wilson on a 60-yard kick returned for a touchdown. Cristofer Thompson’s kick made the score 7-6 with 11:38 in the first.

Greenville would regain the lead at the 7:36 mark when Johnson took it in from the 3-yard-line following a 10-play drive. Hendrix was stuffed on the 2-point conversion.

The teams traded interceptions on the next two drives, with DyKevis Ford getting the ball back for ACCS. Ford would also score on the drive, catching a 31-yard pass from Davis Sharp.

With Greenville giving ACCS five yards for jumping offside on the kick, Scott ran it in for the 2-point conversion to make it 15-12. The score held until the half.

Scott began the third quarter with a score for ACCS, running in a 48-yard touchdown at 11:20. Thompson’s kick made the score 22-12.

Ford earned the next score from 2 yards out, making the score 29-12 after Thompson kick’s at the 10:04 mark.

ACCS helped keep Greenville’s next drive alive with penalties, but the Rebels’ Chris Smotherman made up for it, getting 2 of his 3 sacks.

Following a turnover on downs, Wells broke several tackles on his way to making it 36-12 after the Thompson kick with 4:54 to go.

The final score of the game would come with 1:33 remaining with Nelson getting a touchdown from three yards out.

After giving up 220 yards in the first half, the Rebels defense held the Fighting Irish to just 84 yards in the second. The Rebels had four interceptions, with Ford snatching two, and Wells and M.J. Thornburg each pulling down one.

Wells led the team in tackling with seven. He also led the team in rushing with 96 yards.

The Rebels will play Indianola at 7 p.m. Thursday at Jackson Academy for the MAIS AAA State Championship. Indianola defeated Heritage Academy 42-14.

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ACCS begins defense of state title at Lamar

ACCS gets ‘comfortable’ with offense, defeats Cathedral (gallery)