The Zion Chapel Rebels went to toe-to-toe with Highland Home on Friday, but ultimately fell to the Flying Squadron 47-35.

“It was a track meet,” said Rebels head coach Bradley Bowers. “I told them at the beginning of the week that if we got in a track meet we were going to be OK. We punted the ball three times; they punted just once.”

The Rebels were able to score their first touchdown of the game after an 11-play drive that ended whenJustin Mobley connected with Nathan Greene on a touchdown pass.

On the very next drive the Rebels were once again able to put the ball in to the end zone, this time it was on a 41-yard scamper by Codi Davis.

Mobley ran the ball for a 5-yard touchdown and Daniel Peoples ran it from two yards out to close the scoring for the Rebels.

After picking up their first win at home in three years last week, the Rebels came into this matchup with high hopes. After a good week of practice they came up just a bit short Friday night.

“I didn’t think we played bad tonight. The things that we continue to do is to make the same mistakes,” Bowers said. “We are still doing the same thing. It’s because of youth and inexperience and we have to do a better job at making sure that they continue to execute like they are supposed to.”

After a tough start to the beginning of the year, Bowers believes the Rebels are starting to make their strides on the football field and with a little more work and execution will be able to make that next step and get closer to where they want to be.

“I’m not changing what I am doing. I believe in what I do,” Bowers said. “We just have to get better at our executions. I believe in our assistant coaches and I believe in the system that we run on offense.

After the loss the Rebels will rebound for next week as they travel to play Kinston Friday night.