The Zion Chapel Rebels step out of region play this Friday night when they travel to take on Kinston.

The Rebels have started the season with an 0-4 record under first-year head coach Randy Bryant. They have another chance at their first win this Friday against the 1A Bulldogs.

“Coach (Jon) Cooper is a friend of mine. We worked together at Charles Henderson,” Bryant said. “We are both in the same county and in the same school system. We look forward to a good game. He will have his kids coached up and we are doing the same here. Hopefully, we will go out there and compete.”

Bryant and the Rebels want to show the community and the Rebel fans that they have improved this season despite their 0-4 start.

“Last week we really improved on kickoffs,” Bryant said. “Offensively, I feel like we have guys open, its just sometimes we struggle to get the ball to them. We are going to keep working on our individual skills and fundamentals of the game.”

Despite the lopsided score last week, the Rebels defense improved. The next item on the agenda is limiting the big plays.

“Big plays have really hurt us this year; one guy lining up in the wrong spot or one guy not making the tackle,” Bryant said. “We haven’t been very lucky with that. We work on tackling everyday, it just sometimes doesn’t translate to the field.”

The Rebels will be going up against a 1A school, but because of their situation, Bryant feels like his team is in no position to take anyone lightly.

“I have been preaching since I got here that all opponents are the same,” Bryant said. “Kinston is a good football team. If we go down there and mess around, you are definitely going to lose the football game.”

The Rebels did get by the Bulldogs a season ago by a score of 7-0.

The game will kick off in Kinston Friday at 7 p.m.