Chambers Academy Rebels roll into week three
BY KATIE MCELVY
THE LAFAYETTE SUN
LAFAYETTE — Chambers Academy was back up to old habits as they ran for 237 yards in the win over Valiant Cross Academy on Friday night. However, the Rebels also found success in the air, earning 116 passing yards as well.
The Rebels’ first drive started out with three big gains on the ground by Peyton Yerta and ended with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Hunter Andrews to Colton Fuller. The PAT was no good, but Chambers took an early 6-0 lead.
Valiant Cross fumbled the snap on their opening offensive play. That set up a tackle for a loss by Drew Sheppard and Eli Whorton. Kent Nelson held the runner to no gain, and Sheppard and Trey Tigner recorded another tackle for a loss to end the drive and force a punt that only went to the Valiant Cross 29-yard line.
It only took one play for Andrews to find Tristan Ayers in the endzone and add another score. The Yerta two-point conversion was good, and the Rebels led 14-0.
The defense then went to work again. Bryce Modeling got an interception and took it all the way to the house. The Kaisen Nix PAT was good to make the score 21-0.
Andrews scored once more in the first quarter on the quarterback keeper, and the successful PAT increased Chambers’ lead 28-0.
The second quarter was highlighted by two big defensive plays. Tucker Thrower and AJ Noles sacked the quarterback for a 10-yard loss, and Troy Elliott intercepted the ball which set up a Whorton touchdown. The Nix PAT was good, and Chambers carried a 35-0 lead into halftime.
The defense was unrelenting to open the second half as all three downs of the Warriors’ opening drive resulted in tackles for loss by Spencer Newman, Nelson and Whorton.
Whorton added another touchdown in the third quarter, and QB Cohen Hand found Coby Whatley in the endzone for the final Rebel score.
With less than a minute to go in the ballgame, Chambers fumbled, and Valiant Cross had a scoop and score to make the final 49-6.
“We were dominant on defense as they could get nothing going against our front,” said head coach Jason Allen. “I thought we made strides in the passing game which was evident in the stats. We’ve still got to improve in our pass protection. Our special teams have been much improved the last two weeks. We must continue to get a little better each week with the timing of our offense, and I think we are.”
The Rebels’ offense combined for over 350 yards with Andrews going eight for 13 on completions. Whatley had three receptions for 38 yards. Yerta led the way on the ground going 80 yards on seven carries, followed by Jack Nelms with 76 yards on five totes.
Defensively, Nelson racked up 10 tackles, followed by Fuller with seven and Modling and Thrower with six each.
The Rebels will host Banks Academy on Friday, Sept. 12. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Torbert-Allen Field.
