Chambers Academy routs Southern Prep 49-7
BY KATIE MCELVY
FOR THE LAFAYETTE SUN
LAFAYETTE — Chambers Academy made the short drive to Camp Hill this past Friday to take on Southern Preparatory Academy in the two teams’ first meeting in over a decade and did not disappoint.
The No. 2-ranked Rebels (8-1) walked away with a dominant 49-7 victory over the Rangers (3-5) at Ranger Field on Oct. 16 to set the stage for a strong conclusion to the regular season.
“It’s been a while since we played Southern Prep, formerly Lyman Ward,” Chambers head coach Jason Allen said. “They were very athletic and gave us some challenges with their speed and size. I thought we did a good job of containing them.”
Braxton Terry led the Rebels through the air and on the ground, completing 7 of 11 passes for 200 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 117 yards on 11 carries. Christian Terry had a big night with 93 yards on four carries, followed by Aiden Yerta with 66 yards on eight carries. Bryce Modling was the top receiver with 102 yards on five catches
Defensively, Colton Fuller led Chambers with seven tackles and two tackles for loss. Modling added five tackles and a tackle for loss. Brody Morand recorded four tackles and a pass breakup, Tucker Thrower had four tackles and two tackles for loss, A.J. Noles added four tackles and two tackles for loss and Cohan McDonald put up four tackles. Christian Terry intercepted a pass.
“Offensively, we were balanced and really moved the ball up and down the field,” Allen said. “We are spreading the ball out to multiple guys, which is making it harder and harder to defend us. We didn’t turn the ball over again, which has been a huge bright spot for us. We take great pride in that. It’s the one stat that determines wins and losses more than any other.”
The Rangers moved the ball well and came knocking in the red zone on their first possession, but Christian Terry’s interception near the goal line ended the drive and gave Chambers the ball.
Yerta picked up a couple of first downs on the ground before Braxton Terry found Modling for a 25-yard pass. Braxton Terry then ran in the score on a keeper, and McDonald’s PAT put the Rebels up 7-0.
Morand started the second quarter with a pass breakup to give Chambers the ball back.
Christian Terry and Modling picked up back-to-back first downs to put Southern Prep on its heels. Braxton Terry scored the TD, and McDonald added the extra point to make it 14-0.
Trey Tigner and McDonald led the Rebels in their next defensive stand, forcing a turnover on downs.
Back on offense, Chambers stuck to the run game, allowing Yerta and Braxton Terry to cut loose with multiple first-down runs each. Yerta punched in the TD, and McDonald added another extra point to give the Rebels a 21-0 lead.
The Chambers defense allowed no yards on the Rangers’ next drive, with Noles recording a sack to force a punt.
The Rebels rounded out the first half with another scoring drive, highlighted by a 30-yard pass to Hunter Andrews. Braxton Terry scored, and McDonald’s PAT gave Chambers a 28-0 halftime lead.
The Rebels started the second half with a first-down pass to Modling on a slant. Christian Terry then turned on the jets for a 66-yard TD run, and the PAT was once again good to make it 35-0.
Southern Prep answered this time with a 59-yard TD pass to cut the Chambers lead to 35-7.
The Rebels then took to the air with a 65-yard TD pass from Braxton Terry to Aiden Tilley. McDonald’s PAT made it 42-7.
Tigner added the final score of the game after picking up two good runs. McDonald booted through the PAT to finish perfect on the night and make the final score 49-7.
Chambers will host Sparta Academy (0-9) on senior night Friday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. in the final game of the regular season. The Warriors are coming off a 62-0 home loss to No. 3 Abbeville Christian Academy (7-2) on Oct. 16.
“We need to send this class out in style,” Allen said. “They have meant so much to our program and are leaving their mark as another great senior class.”
The Rebels have a bye the following week and will then host the first round of the final edition of the Alabama Independent School Association playoffs on Friday, Nov. 6.
