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History is repeating itself as the Rebels prepare to enter the Final Four bracket of Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) State Championship competition. A shutout win, 47-0, over Jackson Academy Thursday secured the Rebels’ spot for the second playoff round and placed the team once step closer to their bid to “reload” another championship title.

Football fans who watched players on the three-times champion team graduate in May might have wondered if the Rebels would pull off another championship bid. But early in the season, head coach Shane Moye said the team had adopted a new mantra, “We don’t rebuild, we reload.”

The strategy is working for the Rebels, who allowed no points by the Eagles.

“Our defense played really well,” Moye said. “Our defensive coordinator (and athletic director) Matt Marshall had a whole bunch of blitzes and did a good job with [Jackson’s] quarterback, not giving him time to throw the ball. We gave him a bunch of different looks and kind of kept him off balance.”

Huston Hampton got the Rebels on the board during the first quarter with a 54-yard run. The two-point conversation was true, and Lowndes established an 8-0 lead over the Eagles.

Crawford Dansby put the Rebels up to 24-0 by first making an eight-yard dash to the end zone and then connecting with Bradyn Stokes to catch an 11-yard pass. Hampton ran 47 yards for the Rebels’ next touchdown and halftime arrived just after Whit Holley caught a 72-yard pass from Stokes to send Lowndes Academy into the locker room with a 40-point advantage.

“Our offensive and defensive lines did a very good job controlling the ball,” Moye said. “And we were able to make a lot of big, explosive plays because of that.

“Our linebackers, Cooper Carver and Crawford Dansby played really good on defense. Zack Azar (this week’s Athlete of the Week) played really well on defense and offense. Our quarterback Bradyn Stokes did a good job leading our team and protecting the ball and our running back, Jeremy Hardy, rushed over 1,000 for the season.”

During halftime, the Rebels honored local veterans, bringing those present onto the field for recognition. Then the Rebels scored once more when Hampton found the endzone again after an 18-yard sprint.

“Cooper Dansby and Huston Hampton both had explosive plays on offense, each scoring touchdowns,” Moye said. “And then, we had a ninth grader Whit Holley who caught a touchdown pass.”

Moye emphasized the team’s cohesiveness and expressed his pride in how the student-athletes worked together for the win.