By GREG MOORE

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — Jakarius Caston finished his high school career at Adams County Christian School after playing three years at Trinity where the team was defeated in the state championship last year.

The transition to ACCS this year, Caston said, was substantial, and likened the experience to going off to college.

“You’re at a whole different school,” Caston said, “new people, you switch how you play, switch everything.”

Despite the difficulty of the transition, Caston excelled on the gridiron and helped lead ACCS’s football team to the school’s first football state championship in 32 years, with the team winning the MAIS District 5-AAA state championship.

Caston finished the season with 109 carries for 900 yards, 13 TDs; 2-for-2 passing for 48 yards; 44 catches for 606 yards; 10 TDs; 2018 MAIS Class AAA-AAAA All-Star Selection; MAIS District 5-AAA All-District Offensive MVP.

Caston describes himself as a quiet senior who led by example.

“I didn’t really say much,” Caston said. “Our team had a strong group chat where we would talk about things, but we didn’t ever say anything at practice.”

For his quiet leadership and excellence on the field, The Natchez Democrat selected Caston as the All Metro Player Of The Year.

Caston said the team had a tough season, but he raised his level of play when the playoffs came.

After ACCS’s eighth win of the season, MAIS stripped the of seven wins after a player who played in the first seven games, was deemed ineligible player due to technicalities associated with a change of residence.

When Caston and his teammates were told their wins had been taken away, Caston said he thought it was the end of the road.

“The first practice, no one talked to each other,” Caston said. “When they told us we had a chance to make the playoffs, everyone said we still have this and we’re going to play like we’re supposed to.”

Caston said many people did not believe ACCS had a chance going into the playoffs as a last seed.

“We had to play all of the top teams in the 2nd half of the bracket,” Caston said.

ACCS made it through the first three rounds of the playoffs with pretty comfortable leads but faced a tough Indianola team in the championship.

Caston said his coach David King knew everyone was nervous before the game.

“I was even nervous,” Caston said.

Despite the nerves, Caston along with the rest of his team put on a winning performance, defeating the Indianola Colonels 29-17 to capture a MAIS 3A State Championship.

Caston said everything that happened throughout the season just brought the team closer together.

“We proved to everyone that we can come together as a team,” Caston said.