ACCS head coach David King is aware the biggest game in Bobby Marks Stadium history will go down this Friday night when Adams County Christian School hosts Indianola Academy.

“This is the most important game for ACCS since I was an eighth grader here in 1982,” King said. “That year, both the semifinals and state championship were on the road, so yeah, this is the biggest game to ever take place in this stadium.”

The semifinal matchup is the furthest the Rebels have been since 1982, and as fate would have it, ACCS is hosting Indianola, who the Rebels beat for the state title in 1982. Since that state title, the Rebels have won 10 games only twice, in 2013 and 2014 under King.

A big question entering ACCS’ massive matchup involves junior linebacker Chisum Mardis, who fractured his leg two weeks ago. Despite the fracture, King said Mardis’ leg has been healing quicker than he anticipated, leaving Mardis as a game-time decision.

“The X-ray seems to show that he’s been healing very well,” King said. “We don’t plan on playing him, but he’s a blood and guts type of kid. He wants to dress out, but the last thing I’m going to do is put any kid in harm’s way. I’m doubtful he’ll play, but we’ll see how he does, and I’ll talk with his parents.”

The Rebels may need Mardis’ intensity on defense when they go up against what King called the most talented team he’s seen in three years, excluding Centreville Academy.

“They actually have more overall team speed than we do,” King said.

Indianola, the No. 3 seed in the MAIS AA playoffs, have an 11-1 record, coming off of a 17-0 shutout against Simpson Academy, who won the state championship last season. Indianola’s only loss of the season came against Pillow Academy, and since, has mostly won by a wide margin. The same can be said about ACCS, who have an 11-1 record also, after the Rebels lost to Centreville on Sept. 5.

The Colonels will have to travel three-and-a-half hours for the playoff encounter Friday that will clinch a state-championship berth for the victor.

“Thank goodness we’re at home,” King said. “That’s a great blessing to have, and our seniors know that this is it.”