In what was hyped as being a showdown between the top teams from the region, Elba pounded Zion Chapel to the tune of 65-0.

Scott Rials, Elba head coach, went to his bag tricks early on in the game.

Running back Darrean Burks took the handoff from Austin Johnson, then handed off to Michael Lindsey on a reverse. Lindsey then flipped the ball back to Johnson who found Lucas Simpson all by himself in the endzone for the first score of the game.

That would be theme of the night as Elba used big scoring plays to break the game open throughout the second and third quarters.

The Tigers scored on plays of 39, 53, 38, 21, 42, 51, and 83 yards en route to the romp over their neighbors to the north.

“There is not much to say after a night like this,” said Zion Chapel head coach Mike Waters. “We made them look better than what they are, but they are a very talented team and it showed.”

The Rebel offense moved the ball at times, but penalties and turnovers spelled disaster for the visitors.

The lone bright spot of the night for the Rebels came early on in the first quarter when Heath Lee stepped in front of a pass and intercepted it, thwarting an Elba scoring chance.

Zion stays on the road next week as they travel to Red Level, looking for an important win.

The Rebels got help in the region race Friday night when Goshen knocked off Samson.

Coming in to the Elba game, Zion Chapel’s only loss was to the Samson, with both teams having only one region loss.

A fourth region win will almost assuredly lock up a playoff spot for the Rebels.

“We have to go back to work, and get better,” said Waters.

“And we will.”

The Rebels can still earn a second seed out of Class 2A Region 2 if they are able to will out in region play.

Goshen awaits Zion Chapel on Oct. 21.