ACCS belongs in talks with top programs

Published 12:03 am Sunday, November 23, 2014

Breaking news — Centreville is pretty good. In a less joking tone — Adams County Christian School, who won 12 games this season, is pretty good, too.

So pardon me, but if you believed Centreville would pummel ACCS in the MAIS AA State Championship Game, you, well, made quite the leap.

Either that or you didn’t do your homework, which is what I believe the announcers calling the game forgot to do before voicing the live broadcast of the game on the Internet.

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As ACCS took a 7-0 lead against Centreville, the announcers repeatedly said, “Everyone thought this game would be a blowout.”

“Blowout?” I found myself saying in my Jim Mora-playoff voice. “Uh, uh, blowout? You haven’t watched ACCS this year, have you?”

Yes, I talked to my computer screen; nonetheless, I found it quite disrespectful to expect Centreville to roll over a talented ACCS team.

When Centreville took a 28-7 lead in the third quarter, I knew it was only a matter of time before the Rebels climbed back into the game. I’m sure our friends in the booth, when they weren’t making bald jokes at one another, were ready to grab a snack from the concessions at that point.

Through the use of Lester Wells, who had a magnificent game running and receiving against Centreville, the Rebels erased the three-possession lead and mounted a comeback, making the game 28-21 with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Unfortunately for the Rebels, Centreville flexed its muscle, and ended up pulling away, winning the game 35-21.

Look, Centreville was the favorite going in, and even ACCS head coach David King accepted the underdog role, himself. But for those who didn’t even give ACCS a chance, you deserve one of ESPN’s “c’mon man’s.”

The Tigers are a powerhouse that just won their ninth state championship under head coach Bill Hurst, so obviously, they’ve earned the respect of everyone in the state. But I’d like to think that after a hearty performance by Wells, Trey Fleming, Torrey Smith and the many other great ACCS players, the Rebels have at least popped up on people’s radars too.

Give Hurst credit for building an incredible dynasty, but give King a little credit too for rebuilding ACCS and making it a championship contender in such a short amount of time. In just three years, he brought his alma mater to the state championship game, and he gave one of the greatest coaches to ever pick up a clipboard in the state of Mississippi a run for it.

Now, what’s interesting is where King will go from here.

Sadly for King, he’s losing those three electric seniors in Fleming, Wells and Smith, who by the way should have turned a few more heads on the college ranks with their performance Friday afternoon.

Those three were King’s cornerstone on offense and defense, looking to get each playmaker the ball in space throughout every contest and putting each in position on defense to create a turnover this season.

On top of that, he’s also losing key contributors like Pete Guedon, John Nix, Zach Pintard, Tyler Stockstill and Parker Rymer. Don’t mean to pour the salt in the wound after losing the state championship, but those losses are going to make King’s job tougher in 2015.

The good news for King is he has a returning quarterback in Carlos Woods and some talented skill players like Sam Butler and Chisum Mardis to help. But heck, judging by King’s coaching career, he’ll put together another winning roster before we know it.

So unlike our broadcast friends, let’s try not to act surprised when he does.