By: Katie McElvy
The Chambers Academy Rebels will kick off their 2022 football season on Thursday, August 18. As one of the first games to be played in the state, all eyes will turn to Chambers County as the Rebels start their journey with the hopes of another 2A playoff run.
First, Chambers will play host to the 3A Lee-Scott Warriors. In the last four seasons, Chambers has beaten the Warriors by no less than 30 points each game. However, after their 41-3 loss in the first game of the season to Chambers last year, Lee-Scott seemed to improve each week, posting only one more regular season loss, and that was to eventual AISA 3A State Champions Pike Liberal Arts. The Warriors ended their season in the semi-finals with a 13-26 loss.
In addition to starting the season off with a win, Head Coach Jason Allen hinted that a bit of pride might be on the line with this game as well. With the Rebels’ cross-county rival, the Springwood Wildcats, moving to eight-man football, Lee-Scott now stands as Chambers’ closest opponent. “Most of our kids know theirs and vice-versa. It’s usually a big crowd for that game, and it usually kicks off the season,” said Allen.
The second game of the season might prove to be one of the most exciting in school history as the Rebels have been invited to participate in the Southeastern Commision of Independent Schools Football Challenge. Eight schools from four different states will meet up at the University of West Georgia. Chambers will play First Presbyterian Day High School out of Macon, Georgia. Last season, the First Presbyterian Day Vikings went 10-2 before losing in the third round of the GHSA 1A Private School Playoffs.
Chambers will open up region play in the third game of the season where they will host the Edgewood Wildcats. The Wildcats faced a tough season last year only recording 2 region wins and 5 overall wins. However, many Rebel players, and fans alike, still have a hard time counting the Wildcats out of any contest because a rainy night in October 2020 lingers in the back of their minds. That night, Edgewood handed Chambers its only loss of the 2020 season, a loss that would be avenged a week before the Rebels recorded their second state championship in three seasons.
The Crenshaw Cougars, a 1A powerhouse, will come to town in the fourth game of the season. The Cougars won the 2020 1A AISA State Championship and lost in the semi-finals last season. Their only other losses last season came from a forfeit to eventual 3A State Champion Pike Lib, a nailbiter with eventual 1A State Champion Lowndes, and a 44-0 loss to Chambers.
The Rebels will wrap up the first half of their season with a homecoming game against Banks Academy. Banks will be the second region opponent for Chambers of the season. The newly formed Banks Academy may be playing only its fourth season of football but saw some success last year going 6-5, finishing 4th in the region, and making the playoffs.
The second half of the Rebels’ season will be continued next week.