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McKenzie Remains Undefeated

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TROY — McKenzie wrapped up three weeks of road games with a trip to another set of Rebels at Obion Central. They left with another win, 40-14, after trailing 14-7 at the end of the first quarter. This was the second 4-A team the Rebels have defeated having shut out Chester County 36-0 two weeks ago.

McKenzie won the toss and elected to defer to the second half which gave Obion Central the ball first. They came out with a punishing run game driving into McKenzie territory where a 35-yard pass completion gave Obion a first down inside the McKenzie 10. Two plays later, Obion was on the board first with a 1-yard touchdown run with the extra point good leaving the McKenzie Rebels trailing early 7-0.

McKenzie answered with a ground game of their own using the feet of Jackson Cassidy and Marquez Taylor. Cassidy converted a third and long play with a 38-yard romp for a first down. Taylor scored on a 14-yard run with 4:51 remaining in the first quarter. Zach Aird was good on the extra point to tie the game 7-7.

Obion went back to their run game and drove back into McKenzie territory scoring on a 20-yard run to retake the lead. Their extra point was good for a 14—7 lead near the end of the first quarter.

Drew Chappell got a kickoff return to the Rebel 40-yard line where a 13-yard pass completion from Cassidy to Aird put the Rebels in Obion territory on the final play of the first quarter. Three plays later, Cassidy took off for a 39-yard touchdown run less than two minutes into the second quarter. Aird’s extra point kick was good to tie the game at 14-14.

Obion went three plays and out on their next series and had to punt for the first time. McKenzie took the ball and drove into Obion territory where they reached a fourth down and long play. Zack Aird connected on a 28-yard field goal to give the Rebels their first lead of the night.

Zack Aird intercepted an Obion Central pass with under a minute to go until halftime. Aird made two nice catches to set up his longest field goal attempt of the season at 39 yards away with a little over a second left until the half. Aird’s kick was good as the clock ran out on the first half giving McKenzie a 20-14 lead.

McKenzie opened up the second half with possession at their own 20-yard line. They drove deep into Obion Central territory where they capped off a nice drive with a 7-yard touchdown run by Marquez Taylor. Aird’s extra point was good to extend McKenzie’s lead to 27-14 halfway through the third quarter.

McKenzie’s defense kept Obion hemmed up deep in their own territory following the ensuing kickoff. An Obion punt gave McKenzie good field position near midfield. The Rebels went to the air with three pass completions to put them In scoring position. Cassidy went 9 yards for the score. Aird missed the extra point leaving the Rebels with a 33-14 lead near the end of the third period.

Obion got their offense rolling again driving all the way to the McKenzie 1 where Tate Surber broke up a potential touchdown pass and the Rebels held on fourth down to take over the ball inside their own 1-yard line. McKenzie went back to the feet of Marquez Taylor for two 10-plus yard runs and then he was gone for a 74-yard touchdown run. Aird’s kick was good for a 40-14 lead.

Obion took the next drive into McKenzie territory again where they were held by the Rebels again on fourth down. McKenzie ran the clock out on the contest for their fourth win of the year.

McKenzie ran up an impressive 522 offensive yards with 414 of that coming on the ground. Marquez Taylor ran 19 times for 219 yards and three touchdowns. Jackson Cassidy ran 7 times for 139 yards and two touchdowns. Cassidy also was good for 8 of 15 passing for 108 yards. Zach Aird led the receiving with 52 yards on four catches.

The Rebels come home for the next three weeks playing host to Perry County in a region matchup.