By Chris Megginson | For the Reporter

Hope Hull – Coosa Valley dropped its season opener to AISA Class AA opponent Hooper Academy, 28-8, on Aug. 17.

The Rebels out-gained the Colts 170 to 149 on the night, but a few big plays helped Hooper take an early lead and remain in front. Hooper took advantage of a pair of CVA turnovers to go up 14-0 in the first quarter on a pick-six and scoring after recovering a bad snap on a punt.

Hooper’s lead grew to 21-0 in the third quarter, but Cody Eaves put CVA on the board with 36 seconds left to play in the third quarter on a 16-yard touchdown run. Kaleb Allen punched in the 2-point conversion.

“We were in it until about three minutes to go. We had them in a long situation, gave them a personal foul to give them a first down, and that turned it around. They punched it in not long after that,” said first-year Rebels’ head coach Jamie Scruggs.

Hooper scored its final touchdown with 1:05 to play.

Eaves finished the night with a 108 yards on offense and a team-best nine tackles. Jackson Bryant recovered a fumble for the Rebels’ defense. Quarterback Brayson Edwards was 8-of-26 passing for 37 yards, but Scruggs said the numbers do not reflect Edwards’ performance.

“This was the first time I’d seen them playing live action. No spring game and no jamboree. We know where we are, and we know where we got to get,” Scruggs said. “The kids believe in everything that we’re doing. We talked in the locker room afterwards. I told them it was my fault. I’m going to do my best to get them better next week.”

Coosa Valley (0-1) will host Pickens Academy (0-1) in a non-region game Friday, Aug. 24, as the Rebels look for a rebound win.