By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

HARPERSVILLE – After waiting 49 years to break their school record for most points scored in a single game, the Coosa Valley Rebels needed just 56 days to do it again.

The Rebels closed out the 2024 season on a high note with the best offensive night in school history in a commanding 66-14 win over the Trinity Christian Homeschool Eagles on Nov. 1 at Coosa Valley Academy.

“This was a great group of kids who overcame every hurdle thrown at them,” Coosa Valley coach Vince DiLorenzo said. “We are very proud of this group.”

The Rebels offense raced ahead and scored 50 points in the first half before cruising to score their most points in a game in program history, breaking a record set in their 62-14 win over North River Christian on Sept. 6.

Coosa Valley started out strong on both ends of the field thanks to a 34-yard Landon Payton rushing touchdown and 2-point conversion followed by a Jake McArthur scoop-and-score on defense. A Jordin Rogers 2-point run made the score 16-0.

Trinity then responded with a touchdown and 2-point conversion in the air to cut the deficit in half to 16-8.

Payton responded with two more touchdowns before the first quarter ended, the first a 29-yard run and the second a 34-yard pass to McArthur after a Rogers interception. The ensuing 2-point conversion after the second score made the lead 30-8 after one quarter of play.

McArthur and Payton connected once again for a massive passing play, as a 70-yard pass from Payton to McArthur put Coosa Valley up 36-8.

Rhett Johnson followed that up with a pick-six to take the lead to 42-8.

Payton capped off the half with his biggest scoring play of the opening two periods as he ran for 81 yards for the touchdown. His 2-point pass to Braxton Lightner made the halftime lead 50-8.

From there, the Rebels led their foot off the gas, which allowed the Eagles to break through for six more points off a rushing touchdown, cutting the deficit to 50-14 with the third quarter’s only points.

However, Coosa Valley’s offense added two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter to break the single-game points record.

Lightner had a special moment as he caught his first touchdown pass during the last game of his senior season. He grabbed a 6-yard throw from Payton before McArthur added two more points on the ground, making the lead 58-14.

Payton then broke the record with his final touchdown of the season, a 50-yard bomb to Rogers followed by his own 2-point conversion run. That sealed the 66-14 win and gave the Rebels their third win of the campaign.

Payton had 429 all-purpose yards in his final game as a Coosa Valley player, including 5-of-7 passing for 213 yards and four touchdowns and 12 carries for 216 yards, two touchdowns and a fumble.

McArthur scored on both of his receptions while going for 134 yards, and he also completed one pass for 24 yards to Payton. Rogers caught two passes for 73 yards and a touchdown in his Rebels finale, and Lightner rounded out the receivers with his 6-yard touchdown catch.

As for the defense. Johnson led the way with six tackles and his interception return for a touchdown. McArthur had four tackles along with his score off a fumble recovery.

Lightner and Rogers each had three tackles while Rogers added an interception, and Kai Santiago also recovered a fumble to make it four turnovers for the Coosa Valley defense. Payton, Brooks Klinner and Andrew Warner also each had a tackle.

DiLorenzo was proud of how his players worked to improve throughout the season, culminating in back-to-back wins over Meadowview Christian and Trinity Christian Homeschool.

“We talked with our players after Week 3 about coming to school each day determined to do the hard work to get better and give maximum effort each practice and each rep in the weight room until the end of the season and evaluate our season from that,” DiLorenzo said. “They went out winners, and they earned it.”

He also complimented Payton’s big offensive night along with key defensive performances in coverage by Rogers and McArthur, who repeatedly deflected long passes in man coverage to stifle the Trinity offense, as well as Johnson and McArthur’s ability to cover the entire field.

The game was the final contest of the season for both teams as they look to build for the future. Coosa Valley finished the year 3-7 with a record that included two forfeit losses, while Trinity went winless with an 0-8 record with one forfeit loss as the Eagles are still searching of their first win since Sept. 2022.