By STEVEN KILPATRICK / For the Reporter

HARPERSVILLE — On a chilly night in the first round of the Alabama Independent Schools Association Class 1A playoffs Nov. 5, the Coosa Valley Academy Rebels blew out the visiting Chambers Academy Rebels 39-12 to move on to the second round of the playoffs.

Both teams opened up the game by forcing punts on their first drives.

Chambers Academy forced a fumble on Coosa Valley’s second drive and turned it in to six points to take its first lead of the game. Coosa Valley answered back quickly on the first play of the second quarter with a 21-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback John Bullen to Tanner Wood to tie the game at 6-6.

After giving up a field goal, Coosa Valley (9-2) scored another touchdown to take a 12-9 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Coosa Valley owned the second half on both sides of the ball. The Coosa Valley offense scored on its first two drives of the third quarter, including a 56-yard scoring run by Hunter Winslett and a 29-yard touchdown run by Ryan Batson to take a commanding 14-point lead into the fourth quarter.

The Coosa Valley defense turned up the heat even more in the fourth quarter, forcing punts on all three Chambers Academy drives. Coosa Valley held Chambers to only 5 yards in the fourth quarter. With the Chambers team on its heels, the Coosa Valley offense was able to put 13 more points on the board, including a 70-yard touchdown pass from Bullen to Wood to ice the game.

Coosa Valley finished the game with 430 yards of total offense, with 281 yards coming on the ground. Chambers Academy finsished the game with 152 total yards. The Coosa Valley defense held Chambers to only 31 yards in the second half.

“At times we struggled, but it doesn’t matter, we came out with a win,” said Coosa Valley coach Vince DiLorenzo. “I don’t think we will have a problem looking ahead. I am just glad we are playing next Friday.”

Coosa Valley will host Autauga Academy in the second round of the AISA Class 1A playoffs Nov. 12.