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By Brandon Sumrall | Special to the Advertiser

A four-game winning streak for the Isabella Mustangs over the Thorsby Rebels came to an end Friday as the Rebels picked up a 48-27 win over the visiting Mustangs.

The Mustangs (1-9) struck first, taking the opening drive 60 yards with Austin Brasher capping the drive on a 12-yard touchdown carry.

With C.J. LeCroy adding the point-after, Isabella took an early 7-0 lead.

The lead didn’t last long as the Rebel offense answered with long runs by Kevin Mims and Ken Mims that ended with a 1-yard touchdown run and two-point conversion by Kevin Mims that gave Thorsby a one-point lead, 8-7.

A Mustang fumble set up the Rebels’ next drive near midfield, and with a 2-yard touchdown run by Kevin Mims, Thorsby (6-4) extended its lead to nine points, 16-7, late in the first quarter.

Isabella once again answered the Thorsby scoring drive with one of its own when Austin Brasher broke loose for a 35-yard touchdown run to make the score 16-14 in favor of Rebels.

With 8:10 left in the first half, the Rebels looked poised to score again, but a second-and-11 pass attempt by the Rebels on the Mustang 29 was picked off by Michael Mathis to turn the ball back over to the Mustangs.

The Mustangs failed to capitalize on the Thorsby turnover when a fourth down attempt at their own 41 came up short, and the Rebels took over with 4:39 to play in the first half.

A first-and-10 play from the Mustangs 33 saw Conner McRae break loose for another Rebels touchdown to bring the score to 24-14 with 1:53 left in the first half.

The first half scoring wasn’t complete, as the Isabella offense answered with a 4-yard touchdown pass from Jaqarise Stacy to Cornelius Stacy to make the score 24-21 at the half.

Thorsby continued to pour it on in the second half as a Kevin Mims 40-yard touchdown run on the Rebels’ opening possession of the second half put Thorsby out in front 32-21.

The 11-point Rebels lead was short-lived as Jaqarise Stacy fielded the ensuing kickoff at his own 18-yard line and dashed right through the middle of the Thorsby kick team for an 82-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to bring the score to 32-27 early in the third quarter.

With a five-point lead and 6:53 to play in the third, the Rebels went to the ground game and pounded away at the Mustang defense behind running back Kevin Mims.

A 12-play, 70-yard drive ate 5 minutes and 21 seconds off the clock with Conner McRae capping the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run to give Thorsby a 40-27 lead.

A failed fourth-and-three attempt by the Mustangs set up Thorsby with a first-and-10 at the Mustangs’ 25, and with 6:57 to play, Kevin Mims again found the end zone, this time on a 21-yard touchdown carry that brought the game to its final score of 48-27 in favor of the Rebels.

“This win gives us a lot of momentum,” Thorsby coach Billy Jackson said. “I am proud of the guys—the way that they fought hard all year. We haven’t had to get them up not one time all year long. They just play their guts out, and I couldn’t be happier with the effort that we have gotten.”

Kevin Mims led the Rebels’ ground game with 250 yards and four touchdowns on 24 carries.

McRae added 119 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries.

Stacy led the Mustangs with 62 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries.

The game was the last of the season for Isabella. Thorsby will visit Providence Christian on Nov. 6 for the first round of the state playoffs.