Rebels look to make a run at third title in a row
BY KATIE MCELVY
THE LAFAYETTE SUN
LAFAYETTE — The Chambers Academy Rebels have been laser focused all summer long with one word on their minds — “Threepeat.”
Chambers is coming off a 12-1, AISA AA State Championship season in 2023 and a 12-1, AISA AAA State Championship season in 2024 to record the first back-to-back state championships in school history and earned a number one preseason ranking from the ASWA. However, the Rebels are not ready to stop there. Fielding 17 seniors and 15 juniors, Chambers looks poised to make another run, but a couple of big question marks loom as the season approaches.
First, the Rebels are looking to replace a few standout seniors from the class of 2025. Running back Luke Tarver dominated every game last season, earning 1,722 yards on the ground on 127 attempts with 24 touchdowns and 11 two-point conversions. Tarver also had 65 tackles, one interception, four pass break-ups, one sack and one fumble recovery on defense. Another playmaker on defense was TJ Daniel who recorded eight interceptions last season and will now be suiting up for LaGrange College. In addition, the Rebels will be missing defensive back Aiden Anglin who had some key, game-changing pass breakups.
Perhaps, the biggest off-season news to come out of LaFayette is the loss of senior quarterback, Landon Hand, who suffered a season-ending injury two weeks ago. Hand ran for 1,309 yards on 90 attempts with 14 touchdowns and six two-point conversions in 2024. Through the air, he was 44-71 for 648 yards and nine touchdowns with only four interceptions. This injury bruised the Rebels deeply. Hand is a legacy at Chambers. His dad, Kenneth Hand, led the Rebels as quarterback in 1996, in their first ever state championship run. The Rebels recorded their first 10 win season that year falling in the state championship 6-20. That year, there was a young assistant coach on the sidelines by the name of Jason Allen.
That assistant coach is now entering his 21st season as the head coach of the Chambers Academy Rebels, and if anyone can overcome these challenges and have a solid game plan, it’s Allen, who now has a 170-70-1 record at Chambers and has coached all four championship teams.
Chambers has a lot of talent to return to the gridiron this year including Eli Whorton who averaged over 12 yards a carry last year, and Jack Nelms who gained over 11 yards a carry in 2024. The defensive side of the ball is well-stacked with Colton Fuller, Whorton, Drew Sheppard, DI commit Spencer Newman, Bryce Modeling, Gabe Bridges and Hunter Andrews, who accounted for almost 70% of the tackles made last season on a very stingy defense who only allowed 140 points all last season. The Rebels will also be featuring a few new faces who might bring a spark on both sides of the ball.
Many of the questions regarding the upcoming season will be answered on Friday as the Rebels host Starkville Academy out of Mississippi to avenge their only loss of the 2024 season, a 31-35 nailbiter. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Torbert-Allen Field.
