Rebels to play for third consecutive state championship
BY KATIE MCELVY
THE LAFAYETTE SUN
LAFAYETTE — The Chambers Academy Rebels punched their ticket to another AISA State Championship Game on Thursday as they hosted the Southern Academy Cougars in a semi-final game.
The Chambers defense came out ready to play with Drew Sheppard, Trey Tigner and Gabe Bridges all recording tackles for a loss before Peyton Yerta put an end to the drive with an interception. Yerta then went to work on offensive with two big gains. Hunter Andrews ran the ball inside the five on the quarterback keeper to set up the Eli Whorton touchdown. Yerta added the two-point conversion to give the Rebels an early 8-0 lead.
After trading punts, Southern broke loose and scored on an 80-yard touchdown run. Chambers held the two-point attempt to retain an 8-6 lead.
Yerta then laid down his own big run with a 51-yard touchdown to extend the Rebel lead 14-6 to end the first quarter.
Chambers opened up the second quarter with a score by the defense. After a muffed snap, Troy Elliott scooped up the ball and took it all the way to the house. Yerta added the two points to make the score 22-6.
Tigner got an interception on Southern’s next drive, but the Rebels had a turnover of their own, and Southern added another touchdown as a result. This time the two-point conversion was successful, and they cut the Rebel lead 22-14.
Chambers forced a punt on Southern’s next drive. Bryce Modeling fielded it and took it all the way to the endzone to give the Rebels a 28-14 lead at the half.
Yerta added another 50-yard run to open up the second half and added the touchdown and two-point conversion to increase the Rebel lead 36-14.
Jack Nelms recorded three big runs in the Rebels’ next drive to set up an Eli Whorton touchdown. Andrews found Whorton in the endzone to add another two points.
Trey Tigner scored the final touchdown for Chambers on a 54-yard run. The Kaisen Nix PAT was good.
The Rebel defense wanted to get in on the scoring action and forced a safety on Southern’s next drive.
The Cougars did add another touchdown as the clock wound down to make the final score 53-22.
Chambers will face Lowndes Academy in the AISA AAA State Championship on Thursday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m. at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery. The Rebels are no strangers to Lowndes having met them earlier in the season. Chambers emerged victorious in that match-up 27-0. However, Lowndes has been putting up big scores, winning the first round 31-0 over Valiant Cross and beating Banks 41-14 in the second round.
All Rebel faithful are encouraged to make the trip to help Chambers bring home a historical third state championship in a row.
