New Brockton secures playoff spot with win over county rival

The New Brockton Gamecocks (4-5, 3-3) secured a spot in the Class 2A State Playoffs on Friday, Oct. 25, with a win over Coffee County rival Zion Chapel Rebels (5-4, 3-4) on the road 38-0.

The win was New Brockton’s finest defensive performance of the season, shutting out an opponent for the first time this season. The Gamecock defense also held the Rebels to just 49 yards of total offense for the entire game.

“I thought we came out and played lights out the whole game on defense,” New Brockton coach Zack Holmes said.

New Brockton also rolled up 430 yards of offense but things started off slow for the Gamecocks.

“I thought our offense was a little sloppy in the first half, especially the first quarter,” Holmes emphasized. “I knew (Zion Chapel coach) Randy (Bryant) and his guys were going to have a great game plan to stop our running game.

“They went out there and really sold out to stop the running game at all costs and that’s part of why they held us scoreless in the first quarter.”

New Brockton and Zion Chapel exchanged punts to begin the game but then the Gamecocks drove into Zion Chapel territory late in the opening period before turning the ball over on downs.

After the New Brockton defense forced a three-and-out to wrap up the first quarter, the Gamecocks marched down the field and quarterback Kaden Cupp threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to receiver De’Shawn McLeod. The PAT was no good but the Gamecocks led 6-0 with 9:14 left in the first half.

Cupp went on to throw a 40-yard touchdown pass to receiver Kaden Hood with 5:38 left in the second quarter, and another nine-yard touchdown pass to Hood with 28 seconds left in the half to give the Gamecocks an 18-0 lead at halftime.

“We had to make some adjustments and Kaden (Cupp) and Kaden Hood and really all our receivers made some big plays in the passing game,” Holmes said. “That really opened things up for the running game, too.”

Holmes said that at halftime he challenged his team to win the third quarter, and the Gamecocks did that scoring three touchdowns in the period.

“I challenged the guys at halftime because we feel like the third quarter is a big turning point in a football game,” he said. “The offense really hammered down and played well in that third quarter to put the game away.”

New Brockton running back Kyan Horne found the end zone on a 13-yard touchdown run with 9:40 left in the third quarter. The Gamecocks missed their third PAT of the game but still led 24-0.

Cupp threw another touchdown to Hood with 5:38 remaining to take a 31-0 lead after the PAT, and then rushed for an 11-yard touchdown run with 18 seconds in the third quarter. The PAT made the score 38-0 and it would remain that score as the Gamecocks managed to run the clock out in the fourth quarter.

Cupp had a huge day for the Gamecocks completing 15-of-22 passes for 204 yards and four touchdowns along with 41 yards and another touchdown on the ground.

Hood caught three passes for 56 yards and three touchdowns, while McLeod had three catches for 56 yards and a touchdown.

Horne rushed for 132 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. That was Horne’s seventh 100-yard rushing performance of the season.

On defense, Gamecock defensive end Josh Cardwell totaled five tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss and two sacks, while defensive tackle Brandon McCoy had five tackles and two tackles-for-loss. Linebacker Ethan Stinson added six tackles and one tackle-for-loss.