The Ariton Purple Cats (5-1, 4-0) hosted the Zion Chapel Rebels (0-7, 0-4) on Friday night and came away with a 38-2 win on homecoming night.

The Purple Cats hit the ground running and scored on their first drive of the game. Running back Kape Mcrae capped off a 63-yard drive with a 23-yard touchdown run. Mcrae finished the game with 129 yards on eight carries.

On the next Ariton drive, Daniel Hicks set the Purple Cats up inside the 10 yard line with a 40-yard run. Wide receiver Bryson Peavy finished the drive with an eight-yard touchdown run. The two point conversion was successful and Ariton was up 15-0.

After intercepting an Andrew Senn pass, Ariton was on the move again. Quarterback Maddux Herring hit Peavy on an 18-yard touchdown pass. The Purple Cats attempted another two-point conversion but were unsuccessful.

Ariton added a field goal and then another touchdown just before the half to bring the score to 31-0.

Coming out of the half, Senn tossed his second interception. This set Ariton up for Herring’s second rushing touchdown of the game. Herring finished the contest with 100 passing yards and 58 rushing yards.

The fourth quarter began with the Purple Cats holding a 38-0 lead. The final score of the game came late in the quarter when a high snap landed in the endzone and a Purple Cat recovered it for a safety.

“It’s homecoming week and there were a lot of distractions,” Ariton head coach Steven Kilcrease said following the game. “It was a little sloppy but we did what we needed to do.”

Ariton returns to action next week with a home game against regional foe Abbeville.

As for Zion Chapel, the Rebels will return home and face regional opponent Calhoun.