Coming off of tough losses against Division and Valley Stream Central, in which the offense produced only six points while giving up 56, the last place Great Neck South Rebels varsity football team surprised the third place Hewlett Bulldogs 35-20.

Senior Mark Antar had the best game of his high school football career, rushing for 181 yards on 32 carries and scoring five touchdowns.

"I've said all year that we weren't an 0-8 team," South head coach Jim Morrow said. "We only have six seniors and we don't have any depth. We only carry 20 players. But the kids have come out and played hard. This is a tribute to them."

Antar scored from 3 to 5 yards out in the first quarter to stake the Rebels to a 13-0 lead before half-time. After Hewlett scored once in both the third and fourth quarters on touchdowns by Mark Wohlstadter to take a 14-13 lead, South quickly came back with three touchdowns of their own.

Antar scored for the third time on a 35-yard run, and then had runs of 7 and 12 yards to cap the Rebels' offense. Hewlett got another touchdown on a 12-yard run by Ruvolo, but the Bulldogs could not complete the comeback.

The seniors on the Rebels' defense also had career games. Linebackers Mike and Steve Messina combined for 18 tackles, including four sacks. Greg Newman also made seven tackles for South.

During the previous week against Valley Stream Central, the Rebels lost 26-6 and could not kick-start their offense after an impressive opening drive. South marched all the way down to Central's 14-yard line, but committed drive-killing penalties and came up empty-handed.

After that, the Rebels' defense was not able to stop Valley Stream quarterback Chris Rechner, who threw two touchdown strikes to Joe Thompson and one to Charlie Tam in the second quarter. Tam added a 65-yard run in the fourth quarter to increase Central's lead to 20-0. Antar added the only South touchdown from 14 yards towards the end of the fourth quarter.

The Rebels (1-6) will travel to South Side (1-6) this Saturday for the last game of the season, and will face the Great Neck North Blazers at North in a non-league contest Nov. 14.