By Brandon Lee

NEW BROCKTON, Ala. – New Brockton scored 39 first half points and held the Rebels scoreless in the opening half and never looked back en route to a 58-8 defeat over Zion Chapel at Gamecock Stadium Thursday night.

With the loss the Rebels fall to 0-7 overall and 0-5 in 2A Region 3 play, while New Brockton improved its overall record to 3-4, and 2-3 in region play.

Shay Hobbs opened the scoring frame six minutes into the contest on a 20-yard touchdown pass to Marquise Neal. The Gamecocks followed on the ensuing drive with an 88-yard explosive touchdown run by Kendal Truitt to put New Brockton up 12-0. Hobbs found the end zone on the following two drives with strikes to Preston Griffin and Keenan Rachel to increase the lead to 26-0.

New Brockton added a touchdown on a 60-yard punt return, and Hobbs’ fourth touchdown strike with nine seconds left to take a 39-0 lead to the locker room at halftime.

Zion Chapel received the second half kick, but went three-and-out and punted before giving up a 72-yard scamper on the Gamecocks’ first offensive play on the second half. Truitt went on to score from 18 yards out with 4:34 left in the third, before Clay Kelley capped the offensive output with a 20-yard rush with 10:29 left in the final quarter.

The Rebels refused to suffer the shutout with a touchdown late in the fourth quarter on a 23-yard run by Kolby Galimore. He finished with eight runs and 55 yards, while Deal picked up 36 yards on 13 attempts.

Hobbs finished 7-for-10 with 163 yards and four touchdown passes to lead the Gamecocks offensive attack, while Kenneth Deal finished 3-for-8 with 19 yards and an interception for the Rebels.

Truitt picked up 161 yards on nine rushes and two scores, while Jahari Brown finished with 120 yards on six attempts and a touchdown for the Gamecocks.

The Rebels return to action next Friday in the first of three straight home games to close out the regular season.