Bruised ACCS loses two more to injury in last game

Published 12:50 am Saturday, October 27, 2012

COLUMBIA — In a season already defined by numerous injuries, fate added insult to pain and heartache for Adams County Christian School Friday night.

With the Rebels looking to finish their season on a high note at Columbia Academy Friday, ACCS lost its top two centers in Zach Pintard and Caleb Watts during the game.

Columbia Academy took advantage of ACCS’s misfortunes to the tune of a 45-27 win, giving ACCS a 3-8 record to end the year, 0-3 in district play,

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“We were in a bind right there,” King said of the injuries. “We were having to do a makeshift line on both sides of the ball.”

Despite the revolving door at center, the ACCS offensive line still managed to tally 335 yards on the ground.

“We have a couple of pretty gifted runners,” King said.

Lester Wells scored his first of three touchdowns with 55 seconds left in the first quarter on a 2-yard run. The Rebels trailed 14-7 at the end of one.

Columbia Academy scored 17 unanswered points in the second quarter to take a 31-7 lead into intermission.

Wells scored again in the third quarter on an 80-yard touchdown run with 4:32 left. Columbia, meanwhile, tallied 14 more points to make it 45-13 at the end of three.

ACCS added two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter, as Wells scored from 62 yards out and Tristan Beach added an 8-yard run.

Wells accounted for 205 of the team’s rushing yards on 14 carries. Beach finished with 70 yards on seven attempts, and Trey Fleming had 31 yards on seven rushes. Jordan Wells rounded out ACCS’s rushing yards with 29 on nine attempts.

King said he was happy for Beach, a senior, being able to get some playing time on offense in his final high school game.

“He got to carry the football and did a good job,” King said.

The passing game was almost non-existent for ACCS, as the Rebels completed just two of seven passes for 15 yards. Fleming had both completions on five attempts, and Brandon Ross and Lester Wells each had an incompletion.

Ross had an outstanding night on defense as he led the Rebels with 21 tackles. Beach added 10 tackles, and Pete Guedon and Lester Wells each had seven tackles apiece. Shane Pollan finished with three tackles and one sack.

As he looked back on the season, King said he was bewildered that his team had so many injuries, but he was proud of his players for fighting through them.

“I’m very proud of these seniors hanging in there with me, and getting to play so many younger kids for the future speaks well for where we’re going to be,” King said. “I think we have some great years ahead at ACCS.”

King also said he’s glad many of his key playmakers, like Lester Wells, Fleming and Ross are returning next season. He also said the team would start with offseason workouts right away.

“Monday at 1:30 in the afternoon,” King said without hesitation.