BY KATIE MCELVY
FOR THE LAFAYETTE SUN
LAFAYETTE — Chambers Academy’s promising season ran into a roadblock on its journey back to the state championship. For the first time since 2014, the Rebels (9-2) did not advance past the first round of the AISA playoffs, falling 52-30 to Banks Academy on Nov. 6 at Torbert-Allen Field.
“We ran into a good Banks team playing with a lot of confidence,” Chambers head coach Jason Allen said. “They really took it to us at the line of scrimmage, and we had a hard time stopping their running game, which was the difference in the game.”
Braxton Terry completed 11 of 16 passes for 214 yards and three touchdowns and rushed 16 times for 102 yards and a TD. Bryce Modling finished with four catches for 70 yards and a TD, while Christian Terry caught three passes for 78 yards and a TD.
Defensively, Colton Fuller led the way with eight total tackles and a tackle for loss, while Brady Morand, Sam Stockman and Modling each tallied seven total tackles. Modling also had a pass breakup.
The Jets (7-3) started their first drive at midfield. Chambers held them to fourth-and-long, but Banks went for it, and the gamble paid off. The Jets scored a touchdown and added a two-point conversion.
The Rebels answered on their first possession. Braxton Terry found Aiden Tilley for a 46-yard TD pass, but a penalty brought it back. Braxton Terry and Christian Terry then traded carries for yardage, and Braxton Terry hit Christian Terry for a 30-yard gain inside the 5. Braxton Terry ran in the TD, and Christian Terry added the two-point conversion to tie the game 8-8.
Chambers once again held Banks to fourth-and-long, and once again the Jets converted and followed with a TD to retake the lead at 16-8.
Modling caught a 35-yard pass to put the Rebels in the red zone, but a sideline infraction negated the yardage. Chambers fought back with back-to-back first downs from Braxton Terry and Aiden Yerta. Yerta then ran the ball to the 1 yard line, but another penalty brought it back, and Banks forced a turnover on downs.
The Chambers defense was on its heels on Banks’ next drive as the Jets tore through for another TD to take a 24-8 lead.
The Rebels answered quickly with two big passes: a 33-yard strike to Tilley and a TD pass to Hunter Andrews. The two-point conversion failed, but Chambers cut the lead to 24-14 at halftime.
Chambers opened the second half with a 39-yard TD pass to Modling. Braxton Terry ran in the two-point conversion on a keeper to make it 24-22.
The Rebel defense held the Jets to fourth-and-long twice on their first possession of the second half, but Banks came through in the high-pressure situations again and scored a TD to make it 32-22.
The Jets opened the fourth quarter with another TD to increase their lead to 38-22.
Penalties again wiped out two first downs on the Rebels’ next drive, which ended in a turnover on downs.
The Chambers defense was then flagged for 35 yards on Banks’ next possession, setting up good field position and a quick TD that made it 44-22.
This time, the Rebels answered with a 48-yard TD pass from Braxton Terry to Christian Terry. Yerta added the two-point conversion to make it 44-30.
Chambers then attempted an onside kick, and Modling recovered it to give the Rebels the ball and good field position. However, Chambers fumbled, giving Banks another chance to score.
The Jets added a final TD, and the Rebels fell 52-30.
“It’s a tough pill to swallow for our guys after the success of the last three years, but Banks played really well. They will have a good shot to win it if they keep playing like that,” Allen said.
With the loss, Chambers’ season comes to an end, and the Rebels say goodbye to a highly decorated senior class that posted four region championships, three state championships and a 45-6 record.
It is one of the most successful senior classes to play football for Chambers since the school first fielded a team in 1971.
“This senior class has been phenomenal and have been a joy to coach for their entire career,” Allen said. “They will be remembered for the championships they won and the kind of young men they were. They represented our program with class and I will forever be indebted to them for that.”
