Rebels win over sickly, yet determined Chiefs
BY KATIE MCELVY
THE LAFAYETTE SUN
LAFAYETTE — Chambers Academy visited a rebuilding Lakeside program on Friday. Lakeside, who played eight-man football last year, made their return to eleven-man football this year. The Chiefs fielded a team Friday which was suffering from injury and sickness allowing Chambers Academy to have total control of the game from the first snap.
Drew Sheppard, Gabe Bridges and Eli Whorton all recorded sacks in the first defensive series forcing Lakeside to punt. Aiden Tilley returned the punt to the Chief’s 12-yard line, and Peyton Yerta picked up the 8-yard touchdown two plays later. The Kaisen Nix PAT was good.
Yerta picked off Lakeside at their 34, and Quarterback Hunter Andrews found Colton Fuller in the endzone for another score. Nix once again booted it through to give Chambers a 14-0 lead.
Jack Nelms got a sack to force the Lakeside punt, and Yerta took the ball all 41 yards to the house on the Rebels’ first play of the series.
Cobie Whatley picked up a 43-yard touchdown to kick off the second quarter, and the Rebels led 28-0.
Cameron Moore found the endzone next for the Rebels on a 39-yard run. Nix’s PAT extended the Rebel lead 35-0. Aiden Yerta scored the final touchdown of the night, going 80 yards all the way to the endzone to make the final score 41-0.
“This was a mismatch. I was glad to get some of our younger kids some playing time,” said head coach Jason Allen. “That only helps our program in the long run. Hats off to Lakeside for making things happen when they could have easily forfeited due to sickness and injuries. They will have better days ahead.”
Andrews completed six of seven passes for 69 yards. Whatley was his top target with two receptions for 48 yards and a touchdown. Trey Tigner was the leader on the ground with 100 yards on just three carries.
Defensively, AJ Noles led the way with seven tackles, followed by Knox Moncus with five. Fuller, Ty Hendricks and Cameron Moore all had four tackles each.
Chambers will now face their biggest test of the year — a homecoming matchup against undefeated Lowndes. Currently, Lowndes is the top ranked team in the AISA, according to the ASWA. Lowndes is no stranger to success having won three state championships in A and AA in the last four years.
“Now, we get to the meat of our schedule as the next several games will be challenging for our team with Lowndes coming in as the No. 1 ranked team in the state,” Allen said. “I look forward to a great week of preparation and what should be a great atmosphere Friday night. They feature an electric running back who we will have to contain to win the game. It will be a challenge for our team, and I know our kids are excited for the opportunity.”
Homecoming festivities will start Friday, Sept. 26, at 6:30 p.m. with kickoff set for 7 p.m. at Torbert-Allen Field.
