McKenzie Edges Huntingdon in Thriller, 38-35

HUNTINGDON (August 23) - Sometimes, you can believe the hype.

A breathtakingly massive audience gathered at Paul Ward Stadium Friday to see the highly-anticipated season opener between the Mustangs and the visiting McKenzie Rebels, and the teams put on a show worthy of the storied rivalry.

Huntingdon seemed to be in control with two early touchdowns, but McKenzie tied the game at 14-14 before halftime. After trading TDs in the third quarter, the Rebels took their first lead, 24-21, with a field goal to start a wild fourth quarter. Four more touchdowns meant four lead changes, and the Rebels took a final lead with just 22 seconds on the clock for a 38-35 victory.

The Mustangs won the coin toss and received the opening kickoff. Tyreke Hutch reeled it in deep and returned it to the Huntingdon 38. True to tradition, the Mustangs kept the ball on the ground for most of the possession, eating up most of the first frame. Quarterback Gray Eubanks kept ten times in the 17-play drive. His only two passes came on a key third-and-long when he hit Easton Byars for eight and then converted a fourth down pass to Brady Warbritton for ten yards, setting up first-and-goal. Two plays later, Eubanks dove two yards into the end zone for the score. Greyson Anderson kicked the extra point for a 7-0 Huntingdon lead with 1:40 left in the first.

The Rebels went three-and-out on their first possession, punting on the first play of the second quarter.

Eubanks kept the first snap for a 74-yard touchdown, and Anderson’s PAT gave the Mustangs a 14-0 advantage 30 seconds into the second frame.

Huntingdon’s Ethan Raffield kicked deep to Rebel Colt Norden, who returned it from inside the 5 out to the 23. Quarterback Tate Surber threw to Timmy Arline for a 77-yard touchdown on the first snap. Skyler Fornera kicked the point after, and McKenzie cut the deficit to 14-7 with 11:08 to play in the second.

The Mustangs managed a first down, but a high snap followed by a low snap, both resulting in lost yards, doomed the drive. A low punt from the Huntingdon 26 was downed at the McKenzie 26.

Arline started the drive with back-to-back carries for a combined 19 yards. Surber threw to Cole Brown for 12 yards and another first down. Arline gained three, then Surber tossed to C. Brown just short of the first-down marker. Arline was stood up at the line of scrimmage to bring up fourth-and-inches, but Surber converted on a QB sneak. Arline was stopped for no gain again, but then caught a pass for 25. Surber kept for a three-yard touchdown, and Fornera kicked to tie the game at 14-all with two minutes to play before the break.

Rebel Guillermo Hickman’s kickoff went into the end zone for a touchback. Huntingdon ran six plays for 34 yards before time expired.

McKenzie received the second-half kick, but went three-and-out.

Starting at their 25, Eubanks and Warbritton ran well in a nine-play drive capped by Eubanks pushing the pile across the goal line for a one-yard score. Another Anderson PAT put the Mustangs back ahead, 21-14, with six minutes to play in the third.

The Rebels started at their 30 with a pass from Surber to Landon Brown for a solid gain. Extra yards from a Huntingdon penalty moved the ball into Mustang territory. Arline ran for 20, then Surber threw incomplete. He found L. Brown on the next pass for 12, then Arline gained nearly ten. On second-and-inches, Surber kept for the two-yard touchdown. Fornera’s kick tied it at 21-21 with four minutes remaining in the third quarter.

The Mustangs went three-and-out, but a great punt by Eubanks put the Rebels deep at the 13. Surber completed passes to Norden, C. Brown and Norden again as the third ended. He continued throwing in the fourth, but the defense adjusted and the Rebels kept it on the ground for three plays and earned a first-and-goal at the 10. Three plays later, Fornera kicked a 27-yard field goal to give McKenzie a 24-21 lead, their first of the game, with just under nine minutes to play.

Eubanks started the ensuing drive with a 19-yard pass to Byars, then threw incomplete. Next, the QB kept for seven, then six, then a 43-yard touchdown. Anderson kicked to put Huntingdon up 28-24 with seven minutes remaining.

On the next drive, Surber completed two passes to C. Brown and one to Norden, but his two runs were key as one converted a third-and-one and the other was a one-yard touchdown. Fornera stayed sure-footed, and McKenzie led again, 31-28, with 4:36 on the clock.

Eubanks picked up a long kickoff near the 5 and returned it to the 31. He kept three straight snaps for two, five and 62 yards for another go-ahead touchdown. Anderson remained perfect on PATs, and Huntingdon led 35-31 with three minutes to play.

Norden received the Mustang kickoff near the 10 and advanced it about 25 yards. After the tackle, officials converged to determine if there had been a fumble and if so, which team had recovered the ball. The ball was awarded to the Rebels at the 36. Surber threw incomplete twice, but a penalty gave McKenzie a fresh set of downs near midfield. He connected with Norden for another first down at the Huntingdon 32, but two incomplete passes and a personal foul penalty set McKenzie back. On third-and-23, Surber found C. Brown for 30 yards. Now at the 15, Surber faced intense pressure from the Mustang blitz and threw incomplete three times. On fourth-and-ten, with just half a minute to play, Surber threw to Martez Teague in the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown. The Fornera kick made it 38-35.

Huntingdon would take over at their own 25 with 13.5 seconds on the clock. Eubanks completed an 18-yard pass to Warbritton, and the Mustangs stopped the clock at 5.8 seconds with a timeout. Eubanks targeted Warbritton again near the sideline, but Fornera flew in to break up the play as time expired.

The two experienced senior quarterbacks put up impressive performances for their respective teams.

Rebel Tate Surber was 20 of 33 passing for 338 yards and two touchdowns. He rushed eight times for 31 yards with three touchdowns.

Mustang Gray Eubanks was 5 of 7 passing for 63 yards and rushed 31 times for 286 yards and five touchdowns.

McKenzie travels to Dresden Friday, while Huntingdon has a bye.