NATCHEZ — Going into the cross-town showdown that featured two of the top-ranked teams in MAIS AAA, Cathedral head coach Ron Rushing had a plan for Adams County Christian School playmakers.

As it turned out, in a 27-17 ACCS Rebels win, those playmakers found a way to overcome Rushing’s strategy to put two safeties over the top.

“They didn’t do anything we didn’t know they were going to do,” Rushing said. “They just made plays, and we have to tip our hat to them.”

With a 3-0 lead, on Cathedral’s second defensive series, ACCS head coach David King dialed up a play that saw wide receiver Shavarick Williams run a double move that froze the cornerback and safety over the top, giving Williams a large enough window for quarterback Carlos Woods to drop the football into his outstretched arms. Williams made the catch and ran into the end zone for the 72-yard touchdown, beating the double coverage.

“I love that play,” Woods said. “I knew it was going to be there because the safety was coming down, and I just had to make the throw.”

The offensive plan for Rushing took a big hit when star running back Dee Fleming suffered a blow to his leg on the third rushing attempt of the game. Fleming, who believed he had suffered an Achilles injury, left the game and did not return.

“It’s very disappointing for myself because a big game like that, I feel like I need to be there making plays for my team,” Fleming said.

Meanwhile, Woods, Williams and the ACCS offense took advantage of short fields. Following Fleming’s injury, Woods marched a 55-yard drive to the end zone that ended in a 17-yard touchdown pass to Chris Smotherman, giving ACCS a 14-3 lead.

After ACCS’ Sam Butler caused a Jardarius Anderson fumble, Woods found Williams for paydirt once again on a 22-yard pass. Williams, who had three receiving touchdowns, six tackles on defense and an interception to go along with it, said he had no choice but to elevate his game.

“It was a big game,” Williams said. “Did you see all of the people? You just have to come out and play your best. Big players make big plays.”

With a 20-3 lead in the third quarter, ACCS’ defense limited any offensive production from Cathedral until quarterback Connor Mire turned nothing into something. After bobbling the snap and dropping the ball, Mire picked it up, scrambled and found J.J. Jenkins, who broke two tackles and accelerated up the field for the 44-yard score.

Two drives later, up 20-10, Woods made yet another play for his team. Forced to the right, Woods scrambled, before shedding a would-be Will Wallace sack and coming back to his left to find a wide-open Williams in the end zone for a 24-yard score in the fourth quarter. ACCS led 27-10 with less than nine minutes to play.

“Carlos is a player,” ACCS head coach David King said. “He makes plays when he has to, and the scramble at the end was huge. That was probably the play of the game.”

Cathedral didn’t give up, though. Anderson, who received a punt near Cathedral’s own 30-yard line, made two ACCS players miss before turning up the field and scoring on a punt return to draw the Green Wave within 10 under four minutes to play. The Green Wave secured the ensuing onside kick, but a backwards pass was recovered by ACCS’ Chisum Mardis four plays later.

After the game, Rushing was frustrated with his team’s 262 total yards of offense and four turnovers.

“I told my guys that I’m proud of the effort, but I’m displeased in the product,” Rushing said. “This is the most unorganized offensive team I’ve had in my seven years. We’re still cramping. If I run my kids anymore, I’m going to get arrested. I just have to go back and find out what the answer is. This is far from how good we can be, but we look sloppy right now.”

Woods finished the game completing 12 of 17 passes for 189 yards and four passing touchdowns and an interception. Mardis rushed 15 times for 105 yards. Williams had three receptions for 118 yards and three touchdowns, while George Scott was limited to four catches for 23 yards.

King said getting the win was nice, but he expects to see Cathedral again down the road.

“Let’s be honest and let’s be real, Demarcus being out hurt them,” King said. “We were sloppy. They were relentless. Ron had us confused at times with the stuff he does. It wasn’t pretty, but hey, at the end of the day, they did a good job against George (Scott). We had some guys step up.”

At 6-2, Cathedral will host Centreville Friday, while (8-0) ACCS hosts East Rankin Academy.