Rebels handle highly touted Abbeville team
BY KATIE MCELVY
THE LAFAYETTE SUN
LAFAYETTE — The Chambers Academy Rebels travelled to Abbeville last Thursday to face the undefeated Generals led by quarterback and University of Missouri commit, Ahmod Billins.
Although Drew Sheppard sacked Billins on the first play from scrimmage for a 5-yard loss, the Generals stayed composed and put together a nice drive of passes into the redzone. Once inside the 10-yard line, the Rebel defense went to work with Spencer Newman batting down a pass, Troy Elliott getting a pass breakup in the endzone and a host of Rebels taking Billins down for a 3-yard loss on the keeper to bring up fourth and goal. However, Abbeville rose to the occasion with an 11-yard touchdown pass and converted for two points to put Chambers down 0-8 midway through the first quarter.
Chambers then took over and charged down the field with Peyton Yerta leading the way, scoring the 37-yard touchdown and converting for two points to tie up the game.
Abbeville’s next drive was not as successful with the Rebel defense settling in. Sheppard ended the drive with a sack for a loss of 9 yards. Abbeville then muffed the snap on the punt, allowing Chambers to get the ball at the Generals’ 24. Hunter Andrews scored on an 18-yard quarterback keeper to put Chambers in the lead 14-8.
Abbeville was able to answer to start the second quarter with a big, 44-yard pass to set up a 9-yard touchdown. Gabe Bridges batted down the pass on the two-point attempt to keep the score tied at 14 all.
Bryce Modling then ignited the Rebel offense returning the kick-off inside the 15. Yerta scored the touchdown and converted for two to put Chambers back in the lead 22-14 at the half.
Cobie Whatley got things started in the second half, turning on the jets and returning the opening kick-off 82 yards for a touchdown. Yerta once again found the endzone for two points.
Yerta and Kent Nelson put a stop to the next Abbeville drive to force a punt.
Jack Nelms recorded a big 28-yard run to set up the Eli Whorton touchdown. The conversion was unsuccessful, but the Rebels increased their lead 36-14.
Nelms and Whorton traded carries on the next Rebel drive to bring up a fourth and one situation inside the five. The ball was fumbled on the snap, but quarterback Hunter Andrews picked it up and fought through two defenders for another Rebel touchdown. The Kaisen Nix PAT was good to give Chambers a 43-14 lead going into the final quarter of the game.
Abbeville came knocking on their next drive getting to the Chambers’ 25, but Nelson picked off the quarterback at the goal line and took it all the way to the house for the final Rebel score. Nix booted another one through to make the final score 50-14.
Yerta led the offense on the ground with 88 yards on 14 carries while Kent Nelson and Drew Sheppard led the defense with six tackles each.
“It was a total team victory against a 9-0 Abbeville club playing with a lot of confidence,” said head coach Jason Allen. However, Allen said he believes the game was much closer than the score indicated and praised a much improved Abbeville team.
“I thought our depth and physicality took over in the second half, and we wore them down,” Allen said. “I’m not satisfied with how we played offensively from a blocking and execution standpoint. We just looked sluggish, but I give credit to Abbeville as they had really good team speed in closing on ball carriers. Defensively, I was pleased for the most part with our discipline and the kids doing what we asked them to do. That quarterback we were chasing had elite quickness and playmaking ability.
“Special teams were huge for us as we had the big kickoff return by Cobie Whatley coming out of the half, and Bryce Modling had another huge one that set us up at the 15 going in during the second quarter.”
Chambers will now host the first round of the playoffs against a Fort Dale team that the Rebels already defeated 47-0 in early October.
“I’m always wary of playing a team twice,” Allen said. “They have rich tradition and great pride and will come in with nothing to lose. It’s win or go home from here on out, so we need to play our best football each week.”
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on Friday at Torbert-Allen Field.
