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MARIANNA, Ark. — Wilkinson County Christian School senior quarterback Jacob Sessions had three touchdown runs, including the go-ahead score from 17 yards out with 23 seconds left in the fourth quarter, as the Rams upset Lee (Ark.) Academy 22-14 in the semifinals of the 2024 MAIS 8-Man Class 1A Playoffs.

With the win, No. 3 seed WCCA (9-4) advanced to the state championship game at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 22 on the campus of Jackson Academy against the winner of the other semifinal game between No. 4 seed Claiborne Academy and No. 1 seed Briarfield Academy.

But it wasn’t just Sessions who stepped up when called upon for WCCA to hold off a good Lee Academy team. It was also the play of the Rams’ defense, which forced four turnovers and held the Cougars to just 195 yards of total offense.

“Our kids were resilient on offense and defense, but especially the defense. Offense is what sells tickets, but defense is what wins championships,” Rams head coach Randy Holloway said. “I can’t be more proud of them. The defense really gelled together the last month. It put us I the position where we’re at – going to Jackson to play for a state championship.”

WCCA scored first on a seven-yard touchdown run by Sessions and his two-point conversion pass to Easton Buteaux gave the Rams an 8-0 lead at the 1:21 mark of the first quarter. Then with 6:25 left until halftime Sessions scored on a 73-yard run for a 14-0 lead at the half.

“We started fast. We dictated the pace of play in the first half,” Holloway said. “We forced four turnovers and converted two of them into scores. During the course of the game, the defense bit a little bit. But we made the plays when we had to.”

Lee Academy senion quarterback Will Felton helped the Cougars get back in the game with a six-yard touchdown run and his two-point conversion run with 2:14 left in the third quarter made it a 14-8 game.

Then Felton scored on a one-yard run, but the try for two on a pass was no good and the game was tied at 14-all with 6:42 remaining. Then the defense forced a turnover on downs and that led to Sessions’ third touchdown run of the game. Dax Doyle ran in for the two-point conversion to make it a 22-14 game.

The Cougars had one last chance, but time ran out as the got to the Rams’ 21-yard line.

“We knew it was going to be a dogfight going six hours one way. Lee Academy is a good team. A well-coached team,” Holloway said.

Sessions had 16 carries for 151 yards and three touchdown runs and he went 5-for-12 passing for 70 yards with one interception.

“He’s our leader. He’s the catalyst of our team,” Holloway said. “Defensive stops put our offense in position.”

Another player who stepped up for WCCA was junior running back/linebacker Charles Grezaffi. He had three catches for 29 yards, eight carries for 26 yards, and on defense had 16 tackles and one fumble recovery. Buteaux had two catches for 41 yards.

Gauge Metz had 10 tackles, one interception, and one sack, Deshun Smith had nine tackles, one interception, and one fumble recovery, and Jonathan Meredith finished with seven tackles.