The Bubba Nall Era has already had its fare share of firsts at Zion Chapel, but Friday night’s season and home opener sits right at the top.

The Rebels open the 2016 season against Houston Academy.

“We really are excited,” said Rebels head coach Bubba Nall. “We know coach Michael Atkins is bringing a good football team in here. He has a back over there that rushed for 238 yards and four touchdowns last week … When you have teams and talent like that coming in, it’s pretty exciting for us.”

Last week the Rebels made a trip to Barbour County for a preseason game and the Rebel faithful made the contest feel like a home game. This Friday, the fans get a chance to welcome the players home.

“We went to Barbour County and the people just showed up. It was incredible the amount of people Zion Chapel had,” Nall said. “We are expecting that and then some because we are playing at home. It’s our home opener and everybody its excited … It’s going to be a great night. I expect us to have a big crowd.”

Houston County was winless in 2015, but thanks to a veteran core of players the program appears to be heading in the right direction.

“People are saying last year Houston County didn’t win a game,” Nall said. “Last year they were all young. This year they have about four or five seniors and 18 juniors. Those kids are well coached. They are going to be fundamentally sound and they are going to play hard.”

Nall is familiar with Lions coach Michael Atkins from his coaching days at Sweet Water, and he knows the brand of football that the Lions are going to bring.

“I know that he understands the game,” Nall said. “He came from a school where football is important, and he will make it important over there. He knows how we did things at Sweet Water in terms of being physical. He is going to do the same thing over there, and it’s already paying dividends.”

In their preseason matchup with Barbour County a week ago the Rebels overall played a good ballgame according to their head coach. They played well defensively and on special teams, but it was the offense’s four fumbles that hurt the Rebels.

“We are playing hard,” Nall said. “In order to build over a program you have to win over a dressing room and we have done that … We have addressed the things that needed to be fixed. Now we hope that if we play hard and do the things the right way – like holding on to the football, blocking the right people – that if you do all that stuff hard, it’s going to give you a chance to win.”

The Lions and the Rebels will kick off at 7 p.m. Friday night at Greene Memorial Stadium in Jack.