McKenzie Rebels Rout Henry County Patriots, 38-12

PARIS (August 15) — The McKenzie Middle School Rebels traveled Thursday to face the Henry County Patriots at Barton Field. The Rebels set the tone early and built a big lead in the second quarter en route to a 38-12 victory.

The Patriots won the coin toss but deferred possession to the second half.

A short kick set the Rebels up at their own 45. Dawson Reeder took a handoff nine yards across midfield on the first snap, then quarterback Parker Ross threw to Seth Stafford for a 46-yard touchdown. Ross kept for two points, and McKenzie led 8-0 less than a minute into the contest.

Henry County started their first drive at their own 32. Zane Carter ran for nine on first down, but a false start and a deflected snap doomed the possession to a three-and-out. Barrett Snow’s punt was downed by Reeder at midfield.

After a five-yard penalty, Ross and Reeder ran back-to-back to move the chains. The Rebels quickly faced a fourth-and-one deep in Patriot territory, but Ross plowed forward on a sneak for eleven yards. Next, he threw to Jaden Blanton and then to Reeder for a five-yard touchdown. Ross ran it in for two, and McKenzie led 16-0 with less than a minute left in the first frame.

Carson Braham made a good return for Henry County, and the Patriots moved the ball well to finish the first quarter and start the second. A seven-play drive culminated in a 21-yard touchdown run by Braham. A fumble doomed the two-point conversion, but Henry County cut the deficit to 16-6 with five minutes left in the half.

A penalty at the end of the touchdown run allowed the Patriots to kick from the Rebel 45, starting McKenzie deep at the 18. Reeder ran for eight, then Ross scooped up a misplayed snap and scrambled for 29 yards. A pass to Lane Brown and two carries by Bryson Smith resulted in another Rebel score. Parker hit Cayden Gordon for two points, and McKenzie led 24-6 with just under three minutes remaining in the half.

Henry County started near midfield with a keeper by quarterback Theo Kenworthy for eight yards. On second down, Snow had the ball stripped by Gordon, who ran all the way back to the 23 before Snow made the stop.

Ross kept the first snap and took it all the way, but a flag negated the score. Two passes to Reeder set up first-and-goal, and Smith finished the drive with a ten-yard touchdown. Ross’s two-point pass fell incomplete, but the Rebel lead was 30-6 with half a minute on the clock.

The Patriots managed two plays, but Kenworthy’s pass was picked off by Stafford as time expired. At the half, McKenzie led 30-6.

Henry County started deep but ran the ball well to start the second half before ultimately turning it over on downs at the Rebel 35.

McKenzie ran four plays resulting in two first downs to run out the third quarter. Stafford took over under center for the fourth, keeping for 16 yards on his first snap. Zack Lewis lost a yard on first-and-goal, but broke a couple of tackles on the second try for a five-yard score. Stafford kept for two, and the Rebels led 38-6 early in the final frame.

The Patriots started the next drive at their 37. Kenworthy was stopped for no gain, then Easton Aaron broke loose for a 63-yard touchdown. The two-point try was stopped, and McKenzie still led, 38-12.

The Rebels went three-and-out and punted, but Henry County immediately turned it over on a high snap.

McKenzie again failed to move the chains, and turned the ball over on downs with under a minute to play.

The Patriots managed two plays before time expired.

The 38-12 win moves the Rebels to 2-0 on the season.

The team travels to Humboldt Thursday.