The Hephzibah Rebels trounced Butler 40-0 on Friday night, Oct. 2, in prep football action at Butler.
The onslaught started on the Rebels’ first drive of the game. They started their first drive on their own 40-yard line. The drive looked like it might be over after Hephzibah was forced into a fourth-and-six situation, but the visitors had other plans.
Rebels’ quarterback Trust Mack found wide receiver Dextavion Reese, who then ran the ball 56 yards for the first score of the game. Kicker Reante Byrd drilled the extra point, and Hephzibah was on top 7-0 with 10:17 left in the first.
On their next possession, the Rebels (5-1) started at their own 25. The drive started off big after a 15-yard rush by running back Kareem Myers. After this, the visitors drove all the way to the 15-yard line. On the following play, running back Jayden Hester found himself wide open in the end zone and caught Mack’s second touchdown of the night. Byrd’s extra point gave the Rebels a 14-0 lead with 5:41 left in the first quarter.
Butler had another three-and-out before the Rebels took over at their own 47-yard line. After a 20-yard screen pass caught by Reese, Hephzibah was set up to score at the 15. Running back Roosevelt Habersham ran the ball twice, with the final run taking just three yards to for the third touchdown of the night by the visitors. Another extra point by Byrd pushed the score to 21-0 with 55 seconds remaining in the first.
Butler’s struggles continued on the Bulldogs’ following drive. On the first play of the drive, Rebel linebacker Braylon Preston forced a fumble, which was scooped up by cornerback Christopher Kohn for a 33-yard touchdown. The extra point was blocked by Butler’s Jamil Walker, making it 27-0 as the first quarter came to an end.
And the rout was on.
The hosts started their next drive at their own 42 yard line, hoping to turn the night around. Unfortunately, the turnaround was not to be, and the Bulldogs were once again forced to punt.
The Rebels began their next offensive series at their own 45. After a sack by defensive back Ayden Harrel, Hephzibah was forced to punt for the first time of the night.
Both teams exchanged punts on the following two drives.
The Bulldogs did drive once in the first half as far as the Rebel 22-yard line, but Butler found itself in a fourth-and-three situation. On that final down, the Bulldogs threw an incomplete pass, and the ball was turned over on downs.
Thus, the first half ended with the Rebels in command at 27-0.
Butler received the ball to start the second half at its own 32-yard line. Unfortunately, a penalty-ridden drive led to another punt.
The Rebels of coach Daniel Dorsey took over at their own 30 and wasted no time getting back on the board. Reese caught a screen pass and ran it 70 yards for a touchdown. Another drilled extra point by Byrd upped the lead to 34-0 with 7:41 remaining in the third.
The Bulldogs (3-3) started the drive off at their own 7-yard line, but quickly fumbled the ball. Hephzibah recovered and Habersham ran in a two-yard touchdown. The PAT missed.
Neither team was able to score in the final period.
The Rebels will host Washington County on Thursday, Oct. 8. Butler will play at Thomson on Friday, Oct. 9.
William Reyes is an Augusta University student. Augusta Good News is an award-winning member of the Georgia Press Association, receiving a second place General Excellence in 2025 and 2026 Sign up for our free weekly newsletter here.
