If a team was ever to feel cursed, it might be this year’s Southland football team.

The Rebels, who were shorthanded to start the year, had Jackson Koenigs, their star linebacker and full-back, suffer an injury on one of the first plays of the season and from that point the injuries have piled on to almost ridiculous levels. Southland has lost its starting quarterback James Landherr for the season and one of its top rushers, Nick Finbraaten is out for the season with an injury. Three of Southland’s offensive lineman are playing through hindering injuries as the team has had to shuffle players in and out of the lineup.

Koenigs returned to the team, but he has been playing hurt.

Last Friday, the Rebels had freshman Carl Mueller playing quarterback, but they didn’t feel sorry for themselves and they certainly didn’t backdown. Instead, Southland picked up its widest margin of victory since the 2011 season when it beat Kingsland 49-6. Despite all of their injuries, the Rebels are standing with a record of 4-3 overall as they prepare to host Chatfield in the regular season finale Wednesday at 7 p.m.

“This is what defines these kids,” Southland head coach Shawn Kennedy said. “Their work ethic is impeccable and they’re some of the toughest kids mentally we’ve ever coached. We don’t have depth and they know that. They do extra conditioning in practice and they do whatever we ask of them. I wouldn’t want to coach any other kids.”

The Rebels piled up a season’s best 452 yards rushing in the win over Kingsland and one play summed up the squad’s effort. Southland running back Max Tapp was trying to drive his way into the end zone when he ran into a wall of defenders, but before he knew it, the Southland offensive line caught up and they were pushing back. The pile of Rebels pushed the pile of Knights back and Tapp ended up in the end zone.

Beyond the Rebels’ work ethic and beyond their never-quit attitude lies their most valuable trait. This Southland team handles itself the correct way on and off the field.

“I’m going to miss this senior class. The only negative thing I can say is they’re too nice. They’re going to be great dads, great husbands and great fathers,” Kennedy said. “We all want to win, but when you have officials and parents from other teams say that we’re one of the classiest teams they’ve seen, that says a lot.”

No matter how Southland’s season ends this year, the team will be able to look back and say it was a success.

Follow Rocky Hulne on twitter @RockyHulneADH