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McKENZIE (August 16) — It was a big week for one of the area’s fiercest rivalries as the McKenzie Rebel and Huntingdon Mustang faithful met on back-to-back nights for middle and high school football showdowns at Randy Thomas Field.
Round one was the middle school contest Thursday, where the hometown Rebels took a dominant, 30-6 victory, scoring on the first snap from scrimmage and then on each of three second-half possessions.
Huntingdon won the coin tossed and deferred to the second half. Rebel Etijay Tharpe returned the opening kick to the Mustang 42, then Marquez Taylor ran for the touchdown. Taylor converted for two points, and McKenzie led 8-0 with just 20 seconds off the clock.
The Mustangs began their first drive at their own 44. Tayshawn Rivers ran twice for nine yards, then two plays later managed a dozen to convert on fourth-and-two. He ran for two more first downs to get the ball to the Rebel 15, but a holding call two plays later set Huntingdon back to the 27. The Mustangs gained on each play, but turned the ball over on downs at the 10.
McKenzie made three first downs before the end of the first frame, then started the second with a pair of runs to move the chains again and cross midfield. The drive stalled there as the Rebels were flagged for a block in the back, then turned the ball over on downs at the Mustang 44.
Huntingdon caught a break as another McKenzie penalty gave them a first down on third-and-long, but three plays later, a pass by Rivers was intercepted by Rebel Zach Aird at the McKenzie 25.
In the final minute of the half, Rebel quarterback Jackson Cassidy found Aird for a 33-yard gain, but a holding penalty on the next play ended the threat and the half as McKenzie led 8-0.
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