CLINTON, La. — The Adams County Christian School football team had things working for them early in its game Friday night at Silliman Institute.

The Rebels jumped up 12-0 in the first quarter, but Silliman stormed back to take a 13-12 lead at halftime. The Wildcats continued their surge in the second half and ended up winning 34-12.

“We came out playing ball real well,” ACCS head coach Hunter McKeivier said. “We went up 12-0, then they made a drive to make it 12-6. We had a couple of mental mistakes, and then we got down in the red zone, and they held us back.”

McKeivier said the momentum shifted after that stop, as Silliman took the ball 87 yards to take the lead at halftime.

Mental mistakes hurt his offense in the second half, McKeivier said. Penalties put the Rebels in long-yardage situations, and they were unable to capitalize when they did put drives together.

“We would get ourselves behind the chains and have second and third and longs,” he said. “They stopped our run game when they had to, so my hat’s off to their defense, they did a good job.”

The Rebels defense held its own for a while in the second half, but finally Silliman hit some big plays to stretch its lead, McKeivier said.

“I thought (the defense) played real well the first half and most of the second,” he said. “They gave up big plays that ended up being key for (Silliman), but the offense didn’t help them out in the second half. They couldn’t sustain drives.”

Tristan Beach, Christopher Perry and Brandon Ross spearheaded the Rebels’ defense Friday night. Beach had 14 tackles, Ross had 13 tackles and Perry had 13 tackles along with a sack and a forced fumble. Cody Rhinehart and Tyler Buckles each had interceptions.

Lester Wells was the workhorse for the Rebels’ offense. He carried the ball 18 times for 155 yards and two touchdowns.

ACCS will head back into District 5-AA play next week when it travels to Brookhaven Academy.