In a game that was not near as close as the final score, Coosa Valley Academy cruised through Abbeville Academy to claim their last region and season win, 39-30, Friday at home.

“I felt like before the game Abbeville and us were very similar,” said head coach Steven Mackin. “We found a way to stop them with our defense and to get some points on offense.”

The Rebels, who had not finished a season with a final game win in seven years, led the Generals 39-14 in the fourth quarter before sending in their second string players to give some experience to the young Rebels.

The youngsters can thank Ricky Ellison for racking up the points to make their chance to trot off the field a winner in the last game possible. Ellison, who had five receptions for 119 yards and 15 carries for 122 yards, glided past the Generals with ease all night.

“Ricky gave us a really good running game throughout the year,” Mackin said. “But the whole offensive line did good tonight to help him put the points on the board.”

Ellison ran in in two touchdowns and caught two more from quarterback Whit Lovelady.

The Rebels started out their scoring spree with a 9-yard carry by Phillip Neal with 9:47 left in the second quarter, putting Coosa Valley up 6-0.

Abbeville had an answer with a carry into the end zone with 3:17 left in the half. The Generals were able to pull off a 2-point conversion, putting them up 8-6 at the half.

The Rebels were fired up and ready to go when they returned to the field after halftime. Coosa Valley started off the second half with Whit Lovelady connecting with Ellison from 20-yards out to put the Rebels up 13-8 with 9:21 left in the third quarter.

The Generals again answered when they returned a kick for a touchdown with 9:06 left in the third quarter, putting Abbeville Academy up for the last time in the game.

They wouldn’t catch the Rebels again.

CVA marched the ball up the field at the end of the third and Ellison carried the ball 1-yard for the Rebels’ third touchdown of the night. With only 1:36 left in the third, Coosa Valley was up 20-14.

The fourth quarter started out strong for the Rebels when Lovelady found J.B. Ripley for an 87-yard touchdown with 8:42 left in the game, putting Coosa Valley up 26-14.

The fourth quarter action didn’t stop there. Ellison ran the ball 30-yards straight up the middle for the Rebels fifth touchdown of the night, putting CVA up 33-14 with 5:31 left in the game. Lovelady connected with Ellison for the second time on a 75-yard touchdown with 2:36 left in the game, making the lead 39-14.

Grasping onto straws, Abbeville was able to make two touchdowns at the end of the game, one with 1:51 left and one with 0:31 left in the game, but the Generals were too late and unable to match the Rebels offensive fire.

In a fitting end to the night, the seniors were recognized after the game with a ceremony on the field for Senior Night.