NATCHEZ — With an AYA Super Bowl title on the line, the Gang Green and White Tigers knew it would take their best game of the season to go home champions.

Both teams had strong showings, but it was the Gang Green who came out on top, 12-6.

“It feels good,” Gang Green coach David Carter said of being champions. “It was a stressful game. Our offense has been the powerhouse the whole year, and I give them credit because they shut us down.”

The Gang Green were able to strike, though, on the first play of the game, with quarterback Sinnot Bland going 70 yards on a designed quarterback run.

“We did unbalanced, which is where we have more guys on a side,” Bland said of the play. “And we just pushed everyone out on that side.”

Bland’s night was far from done though, as he finished with 105 rushing yards on six carries.

Bland extended the Gang Green lead to 12-0 when he connected with receiver Brayden Gregg from five yards out with just under two minutes left in the first quarter.

But the deficit wasn’t going to sink the White Tigers.

The White Tigers mounted a nine play drive which resulted in a one yard touchdown run from quarterback Justin Hawkins, and took up nearly the whole second quarter. The touchdown run was set up by a 51-yard run by Hawkins earlier in the drive.

Hawkins led all rushers with 116 yards on 15 carries.

“We have a ball control offense,” White Tigers head coach Kirk Graham said. “We got in a hole early, but we came in and executed our game plan. They had fight in them and it was unbelievable. They came out and hustled even though they were down 12-0. We didn’t give up.”

With a 12-6 deficit, the White Tigers took over to start the second half and went to work on the clock.

They marched all the way to the Gang Green 20-yard line, but a costly fumble recovered by Coleman Carter of the Gang Green handed the ball back over.

“We told our kids to continue to play, and the few times we had to make a play, we did,” Carter said.

But the White Tiger defense stood strong, forcing a three-and-out on the next possession, and got the ball back for the final drive of the game.

“We had that big stop and thought we had a chance there at the end,” Graham said. “We really thought we had the momentum, it just didn’t work out.”

The White Tigers managed to drive down to the Gang Green 30 yard line, but time expired, giving Gang Green the win.

“The kids have worked so hard, you would hate to see them come so far and lose at the end,” Carter said. “It was good to see both teams here. They were right there with us, and there is no doubt these were the best two teams this year.”