Rebel receiver Josh Owen hauls
in a 41-yard touchdown pass from
Alec Akin as time expired in the
first half. |
PARIS (September 30) The McKenzie Middle
School Rebels visited the Eagles of Lakewood
at Barton Field in American Legion Memorial
Stadium in Paris Tuesday evening for the
final game of the season.
Lakewood won the opening coin toss and
elected to receive first. The ball was
fumbled on the kickoff and McKenzie quickly
recovered at the Eagle 31 for an immediate
turnover.
On the first play from scrimmage, Rebel
running back Bishop Williams (seven rushes
for 179 yards) took a handoff off the right
tackle and sped away for a 31-yard
touchdown. He carried past the goal line on
a two-point attempt and McKenzie led 8-0 17
seconds into the game.
Lakewood countered with a methodical 7:29
scoring drive in which quarterback Tyler
Polanco did not pass once. Starting from the
Eagle 45, fullback Jeremy Booth carried
three times for 14 yards. Eagle James Yon
rushed for four yards and Booth carried
twice for eight yards and another Lakewood
first down. Rebel Austin Paschall wrapped up
Yon on a one-yard carry. Booth followed with
two four-yard carries and after an official
measurement it was fourth and inches.
McKenzie jumped off sides to give the Eagles
a first down and Booth then rushed for three
yards. Yon carried twice for three yards to
setup a fourth down and four situation. The
Eagles again handed off to Yon who scurried
14 yards for a touchdown. Lakewood was
called for holding on the two-point attempt.
Booth’s second two-point attempt was stopped
short and McKenzie’s lead was narrowed 8-6
with 14 seconds remaining in the first
quarter.
Rebel Bishop Williams speeds
downfield on what would have
been a 72-yard touchdown rush. A
block in the back penalty was
called midway through the run,
though McKenzie still acquired a
first down on the play. |
From the Rebel 45, Bishop Williams rushed
for a seven-yard gain to run out the first
quarter. On the first play of the second
quarter, Williams burst through the Eagle
defensive front for a 48-yard touchdown. He
also converted the two-point attempt and the
Rebel lead was extended 16-6 nine seconds
into the second quarter.
Lakewood continued its no pass game plan
with success on the ensuing drive. Rebel
Austin Chapman tackled Eagle Yon on a
six-yard run to bring up a fourth and
inches. Lakewood handed off to Booth who
plowed for three yards and a first down.
Booth converted another first down on a
six-yard scamper at the 4:19 mark. A second
down snap was muffed but recovered by the
Eagles and Booth carried for three yards to
set up another important fourth down.
Needing a yard, Booth slammed through the
line for two yards to keep the Eagle drive
alive. Two rushes gained no yardage before
Yon’s took a third down and ten rush from
the Lakewood 20 for a score. Yon’s two-point
attempt was halted and with 59 seconds
remaining in the second quarter, McKenzie’s
lead was marginalized 16-12.
Beginning the drive from the Eagle 41 and 48
seconds until the half, Rebel Williams
rushed for an 18-yard pickup. Quarterback
Alec Akin released two incomplete passes to
bring up third down and 10. With 9.9 seconds
on the clock, Akin dropped back and floated
a 41-yard spiral to receiver Josh Owen who
beat the coverage to score the third Rebel
touchdown as time expired. Williams rushed
for two points as McKenzie led 24-12 at the
half.
The Rebels brought the opening kickoff of
the second half to the McKenzie 42. The
first down snap was fumbled and recovered
for a two-yard gain. Eagle Jacob Scarbrough
sacked Akin for a six-yard loss. Williams
carried for seven yards, half of the 14
needed for a first down and McKenzie punted
following the three and out series.
Lakewood, sticking to the run, handed off to
three separate backs to gain eight yards. On
fourth down and two the Eagles punted after
a three and out.
McKenzie downed the punt at the Rebel 43
with 3:02 remaining in the third quarter.
Rebel Akin was sacked for a four-yard loss
on first down and Eagle Cameron Riordan
tackled Rebel back Ezekiel McCann on a
one-yard rush. On third down and thirteen,
Williams got to the outside and could not be
caught as he outran the Eagle defense for a
50-yard touchdown. Williams carried for a
successful two-point conversion to further
the Rebels lead 32-12 with 1:26 remaining in
the third quarter.
Fullback Collin Smith rumbles for a 26-yard
touchdown late in the game.
From the Eagle 45, Booth rushed for a
seven-yard gain on second down as the third
quarter closed. Booth opened the third with
a 20-yard sprint and Eagle back Scarbrough
carried for 19 yards. Two plays later,
quarterback Polanco ran a bootleg to the
right side for a six-yard touchdown. Booth
plowed to the end zone for two points to
lower the Rebels lead, 32-20, with 6:26
remaining in the ball game.
McKenzie muffed the first snap of the
following drive and the Eagles recovered the
fumble to regain possession at the Rebel 42.
Lakewood gained three yards on two carries
before Yon ripped a 13-yard rush for a first
down. The Eagles then lost the ball as Rebel
Josh Owen pounced on the fumble at the
McKenzie 28 yard-line.
With 4:11 remaining in the final period,
Rebel Williams took a handoff 72 yards to
the end zone. Midway through the run a Rebel
lineman was called for a block in the back
penalty and negated the touchdown, though
McKenzie achieved the first down and
Williams was credited with a 17-yard rush.
Later in the drive on third down and seven,
McCann sprinted for a 31-yard pickup for a
first down conversion. Following a delay of
game penalty on the Rebels, fullback Collin
Smith rumbled 26 yards for the game’s final
touchdown. Grant Lowrance took a pitch in
for two points to extend McKenzie’s lead
40-20 with 1:21 left to play.
Lakewood began its final drive from the
Eagle 47. Lakewood fumbled the initial snap,
recovering for a 12-yard loss and Polanco
carried for a yard as time expired.
Rebel Head Coach Brad Chappell commented on
his team’s performance following the win. “I
thought offensively, until the second half
when we lost focus a bit, real well. Bishop
had some big runs, we opened up some holes.
Alec threw the ball well also.” A bit
beleaguered with the defense, he said,
“Defensively we just decided to check out. I
think we thought they would roll over and
lay down.” Looking ahead to the
mckenzierebels.com bowl, Coach Chappell
mentioned, “We have to get ready to play
Union City. They are going to be a tough
ball club with a lot of speed. I know Coach
Williams will have his crew ready.”
McKenzie moves to 6-1 on the season and will
face the Junior Golden Tornadoes of Union
City in the third annual McKenzieRebels.com
Bowl Tuesday, October 7 at Bethel Wildcats
Stadium in McKenzie. Kickoff will be at 7:00
p.m. and tickets are $5.00 at the gate. No
advance tickets will be sold. There will be
performances by both teams’ cheerleaders,
MHS Band, and Wildcat marching band. Ticket
receipts will go to support the United Way. |
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