By Katie McElvy
Chambers Academy hosted the Banks Academy for their homecoming game on Friday and easily handled the Jets with a 42-0 win.
Luke Tarver got things going in the first quarter picking up three first downs on the Rebels’ first possession and capping off the drive with a 35 yard touchdown. Noah Hand’s PAT was perfect to put the Rebels up 7-0. The Rebel defense forced a three and out, and with the ball in hand, Chambers took to the ground again. This time, Braxton Yerta and Buster Coker each picked up first downs before Tarver ran in a 20 yard touchdown. Noah Hand once again added the extra point to make the score 14-0. The Rebel defense then held the Jets, not allowing Banks to gain any positive yardage on the drive.
Coker broke away for a touchdown to start the second quarter, but the effort was called back for holding. Kole Baker launched a nine yard pass to Evan Arwood to void the penalty yardage, and Coker took the ball 28 yards for the Rebel touchdown on the next play. Hand extended the Chambers lead 21-0. The Jets tried to get something going on their next possession. Faced with a 4th and long situation, they faked the punt to get the first down, but they were unable to find the endzone and turned the ball over on downs.
Chambers found themselves charging down the field, but a fumble recovered by Banks ended the drive. However, just two plays later, the Jets fumbled as well and Coker recorded the scoop and score to put the Rebels up 28-0. Banks then fumbled again on their first play of the next possession. Yerta ran the ball all the way to the one yard line, and Tarver punched it in for the score to give the Rebels the 35-0 lead at halftime.
Banks came out ready to play picking up a near 50 yard gain on their first play from scrimmage of the second half, but they quickly turned the ball over once again as Tarver recovered the fumble. Following a 45 yard run by Tarver, Yerta found the goal line for the final touchdown of the game to make the score 42-0. The Rebel defense secured the shutout with tackles for a loss by Aiden Anglin, Ryan Ford, and Ryan Smith keeping the Jets away from the endzone.
“We are really starting the play at a high level right now. Our physicality has made all the difference. Our kids are playing really fast and with a lot of confidence. I’ve been impressed with how we have bounced back after the start of the season. We need to keep getting better and improving on a weekly basis to get to where we need to be by the end of the year,” commented Head Coach Jason Allen.
The Rebels picked up 350 yards of offense on the ground. The effort was led by Tarver with 163vyards on 15 carries followed by Coker with 82 yards on 7 attempts. Defensively, Tarver, Smith, and Ford each recorded 4 tackles with Dylan Williams adding 3 tackles respectively.
Chambers will travel this Friday to Birmingham to face 3A Bessemer Academy.
“Bessemer is a perennial power that will present us another challenge this week. We look forward to playing such a great program to see where we stand,” commented Allen.
Forbus, was crowned the Chambers Academy 2022 Homecoming Queen.