Pat Gallagher | Special to The TimesBerrien quarterback Monteo Brooks gets off a pass under pressure from a Lanier County defender Friday night at Roquemore Stadium.

LAKELAND — What a difference a week made for the Berrien Rebels.

After being steamrolled by Irwin County in its opener, Berrien upended the Lanier County Bulldogs 10-6 in a defensive duel at Roquemore Stadium on Friday night. The victory is the first of new coach Bill Cribb’s career.

“I’m glad that’s out of the way,” Cribb said. “The kids played hard, especially on defense. On offense, we still have to learn how to block. But we’re getting there.”

Lanier (0-1) had a final chance after the Rebels (1-1) coughed up the football at the Bulldogs’ 20 with 5:04 remaining. Lanier was stringing together an impressive drive, highlighted by Tyquan Baker’s first-down catch on a fourth-and-11 conversion, but couldn’t find the end zone. The Rebels’ TJ Bryant came up with two timely pressures on third and fourth down to save the game.

“I think that means a lot to us,” Cribb said of his defense’s fourth-quarter stand. “We haven’t been good on defense in a long time. That’s something I’m really stressing.”

In the end, the Bulldogs couldn’t overcome themselves. Lanier fumbled four times in the first half, losing two. Quarterback Matthew White made magic out of nothing for most of the night, but threw a costly interception on an end zone fade in the third. Lanier also had an extra point blocked after a Baker touchdown.

Berrien was victim to miscues itself. The Rebels had multiple opportunities to put the game away, but penalties and fumbles stalled drives. Signal caller Monteo Brooks, who finished with 130 yards rushing, had a 40-yard scamper negated on a holding call. Brooks paired with Devyne Harris to put the clock control in Berrien’s favor in the second half, however, and protected the slight lead.

Harris finished with 89 yards on 27 rushing attempts. Baker, who at times kept Lanier’s hopes alive by himself, had 127 yards on 11 catches. White completed 11 of 27 passes for 127 yards. Rebels first-year running back Kenyatta Bennett scored his team’s lone touchdown at the 7:56 mark of the first quarter.

The Rebels return home next Friday to host Dougherty. Lanier hits the road for a matchup with struggling Savannah Country Day.

Aug. 19	Irwin County	L 42-7
Aug. 26	at Lanier County	W 10-6
Sept. 2	Dougherty	7:30 p.m.
Sept. 9	Bacon County	7:30 p.m.
Sept. 16	at Cook	7:30 p.m.
Sept. 23	Early County	7:30 p.m.
Oct. 7	at Thomasville	8 p.m.
Oct. 14	at Fitzgerald	7:30 p.m.
Oct. 28	Albany	7:30 p.m.
Nov. 4	at Brooks County	7:30 p.m.

Aug. 26	Berrien	L 10-6
Sept. 2	at Savannah Country Day	7:30 p.m.
Sept. 9	at Groves	7:30 p.m.
Sept. 16	Wilcox County	7:30 p.m.
Sept. 23	at Atkinson County	7:30 p.m.
Sept. 30	Turner County	7:30 p.m.
Oct. 14	at Irwin County	7:30 p.m.
Oct. 21	at Clinch County	7:30 p.m.
Oct. 28	Telfair County	7:30 p.m.
Nov. 4	Charlton County	7:30 p.m.