When David King took over in 2012 as headmaster and head football coach at Adams County Christian School, he fulfilled a lifelong dream of being able to oversee a school.

The grizzled coach also hoped to one day bring a state title back to his alma mater.

He’ll get his chance tonight.

ACCS is set to take on Indianola Academy at 7 p.m. at Jackson Academy in the MAIS AAA state championship.

“I was an eighth grader when (ACCS) won the state championship (in 1982) the last time, and I remember that feeling,” King said. “I’m hired as the headmaster here, that’s my most important job, and this is a side job. But I’ve always held firm that athletics is very important to a lot young men and women, and what we’re doing here is teaching a lot of life skills and also making memories.”

King had an opportunity to fulfill his vision back in 2014 when the Rebels played Centreville Academy for a state championship. ACCS, however, fell in that contest, 35-21.

Senior offensive and defensive lineman Chris Sikes remembers that game vividly.

“I still wake up and think about it sometimes,” Sikes said. “It just really leaves a bad taste in your mouth. We’re going to see if we can do it this year. This is my last shot at it, and I know we can do it. We just have to keep playing as a team.”

All year long, the Rebels have played with the mindset of one heartbeat, and senior defensive lineman Chris Smotherman said that motto has propelled his squad to this point.

“Nothing feels better than this (playing for a state championship),” he said. “The feeling is indescribable. We all play together. We play physical and fast. Nobody is selfish, that’s a big part of it.”

Regardless of tonight’s outcome, King, a head coaching veteran of 19 years, said he’s learned and grown a great deal from this current crop of Rebels.

“Most of my teams have been a grind-every-day-in-practice team and take pride in that sort of thing, but this is a loose, have-fun type team,” King said. “They’ve taught me you can be that way and still be successful. I’ve grown and matured being around this group.”

How they got here

ACCS breezed through its playoff games, outscoring its three opponents by a combined 119-48. The Rebels have won their 11 games after dropping their first two contests of the year.

Indianola Academy, meanwhile, has run the table the this year. The Colonels (13-0) have won all but one of their games by double figures.

Indianola has consistently been ranked in top 5 throughout the year in the Mississippi AP Private School poll and checked in at No. 4 in the final poll Nov. 1. ACCS was ranked ninth in the final poll.

“Maybe besides (Madison-Ridgeland Academy), they’re the best team we’ve seen, no question,” King said. “They’ve been No. 1 since two-a-days. They’re the No. 1 team in AAA, but you have to play four quarters of football in the state championship game.”

From the other side

Indianola Academy coach Tommy Nester said ACCS is talented in a number of different areas, but two stand out to him the most: the Rebels’ size and athleticism.

“They have outstanding team speed,” Nester said. “They have big interior blockers, and they’re going to be a challenge.”

Nester said his team relies on the strength of its rushing attack and defense, and so far that philosophy has proven to be a winning one.

“It’s offense, defense and special teams,” Nester said. “We have a pretty good kicker, and hopefully we are going to be able to match them.”

In last week’s 42-14 win over Heritage Academy, Sebastian Harris ran for 181 yards while Sherman Timbs added 96 yards and three scores in the win.

“We’ve had a good year,” he said. “We like to control the football. We’re a run-first team. Hopefully we can get first downs and keep the football.”

Timbs, a 6-foot-3, 260 pounder, also doubles as a defensive end and will square off ACCS’ Sikes for the majority of the game.

“He’s a quick guy,” said Sikes, who stands 6-foot-5 and 295 pounds. “I’m just going to have to man up and play the game I’ve been playing … We just have to keep being physical; the more physical team is going to win.”

Added Smotherman, “We want to stop their main people. The defense sets the tone of the game.”

Coach’s view

ACCS and Indianola have faced two common opponents throughout the year, and one of those common oppenents is Greenville-St. Joseph.

ACCS punched its ticket to the state title game with a 36-20 win last week over St. Joseph, and Fighting Irish coach John Baker said ACCS and Indianola Academy could not be more different.

“They’re two polar opposites,” he said. “ACCS has a ton of real good athletes and a lot of speed on the edges. Indianola, they’re going to run it right at you. They’re huge, physical and strong. They don’t have blazing speed but they do have some good athletes.”

Indianola defeated St. Joseph on Sept. 9, 30-18.

“Size wise, Indianola will have the advantage,” Baker said. “Athletically, it will be hard for them to stop ACCS. It’s a good contrast in football. Old school vs. new school.”

Cathedral High School coach Chuck Darbonne echoed Baker’s sentiments regarding the Rebels’ skill level.

“(ACCS) has athletes that can make plays in space on both sides of the ball,” Darbonne said. “It doesn’t allow you many screwups. They play aggressive and it comes down to the speed they posses.”

Darbonne, whose squad fell to ACCS 34-0 on Oct. 7, said the Rebels are well-coached defensively and difficult to block. But one area that might go overlooked is the Rebels’ kicking game, led by junior Cristofer Thompson.

“When you’ve got a guy that can make the opponent start at the 20 after a score or pin you inside the 10 on a punt, it’s a hard to thing to overcome, especially in high school,” he said.

Baker said key matchups to watch include Sikes vs. Timbs on the interior, and ACCS wide receiver and Louisiana Tech commit George Scott III vs. Indianola defensive back Shade Smith.

“Indianola doesn’t make any mistakes,” he said. “They hardly turn the ball over. They’re conservative on the offensive side, and they don’t throw the ball a whole lot.”