With three games remaining, the 2-5 Zion Chapel Rebels are embracing the opportunities for improvement – one game at a time.

“We have three games,” said Rebels head coach Bubba Nall. “We would like to think that we could finish off strong. We can’t look to the ninth and 10^th game until we get passed the eighth game.”

This week the Rebels face the winless Calhoun Tigers, and confidence is riding high.

“It’s a football team that I believe we match up well with,” Nall said. “Our kids are excited about it, and that’s half the battle.”

Calhoun is averaging six points per game and has been struggling on both sides of the ball.  Zion Chapel will need to focus on tackling receivers. “They have a couple of receivers that like to play running back,” Nall said. “They are going to toss the ball out there to them and let them run. If we tackle them we will be fine. If we don’t its going to be a long night. Athletes that run give us fits.”

The Rebels offense has averaged just 10 points per game, but they will be going up against a defensive unit that has surrendered 55 points per game.

“If they keep doing what they have been doing we would like to think that we will be able to move the football,” Nall said. “They are going to play a 4-2 look and we have been blocking that all year.”

The Rebels are 4-2 all time against Calhoun, which includes a 35-18 win last season. Nall’s goal for the Rebels this season has been to just get better, and with three games remaining he says they are close.

“We are not far from not being decent,” Nall said. “When you line up against Goshen, Luverne, New Brockton and Houston Academy they make a lot of people look bad. If you don’t play great against really good teams it’s going to look like you got your socks blown off you, and that is not the reality.”

Kick off between the Rebels and the Eagles is 7 p.m. at Samuel Bruce Stadium in Letohatchee.