For the third week in a row, the Zion Chapel Rebels were unable to obtain a win, as the team fell last Friday at St. Jude, 22-14.

Even though the Pirates took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, the Rebels were able to mount a comeback to tie the game at 14 all heading into the fourth quarter.

However, in the final quarter the Pirates scored eight unanswered points, propelling the team to a victory and sinking Zion Chapel to 0-3 and 0-2 in the region.

“We need to learn how to finish a game,” Rebels head coach Mike Waters said.

“We had multiple opportunities to win [against St. Jude] but we kept shooting ourselves in the foot.

“We need to learn from our losses. We are close though [to winning] – we can almost feel it,” the coach added.

Against the Pirates, senior quarterback Lance Walden did all he could to lift the team to vicoty.

Walden, who was diagnosed with a deep bruise in his right leg the Monday before St. Jude, finished with 27 yards passing, completing three of his 11 attempts and also rushed for 45 yards on 12 carries.

The Rebels next test will come in the form 2A Region 3 foe Keith (2-1), who is coming off its first loss of the season, falling 33-14 at Goshen.

“Keith is going to come out sky high,” Waters said. “They are going to try and get this region win.”

“To me, they looked pretty flat against Goshen [last week] in the first half. In the second half they played much better.”

Before the loss to the Eagles, Keith had outscored its opponents, Central and Highland Home, 88-6.

Last season the Bears beat the Rebels 58-8.

“We are going to try and do the same thing we do against all of our opponents – stop the run and force the opposing offense to do things they don’t want to do,” Waters said.

For the Rebels team, the coach said the team is going to stick with the game plan it has all year.

“Offense needs to execute better,” Waters said.

“Like I have said before, we are just one block away from creating something big.”

Defensively, the coach said he saw the same kind of problems.

“We aren’t readings plays or reacting like we need to be – we need to be more aggressive on both sides of the football.”

Waters said that getting that first win is something that is necessary however easier said then done.

“These kids never stop working hard. It really hurts to get so close [to a win] and not be able to pull it off.

“I think we are learning how to win,” the coach added

Zion Chapel will play host to the Bears this Friday at 7 p.m.