Rebels Cage Lions on Homecoming, 50-14

McKENZIE (September 19) —- McKenzie High School capped off a week of Homecoming festivities Friday night with a 50-14 win over the Camden Lions.

The lopsided win came in spite of excessive miscues by the Rebels and an injury early in the game to offensive weapon Timmy Arline. Defense was the bright spot for McKenzie; Camden was held to just 73 total yards of offense and one touchdown from scrimmage.

The Rebels received the opening kick and struck quickly with a six-play, 86-yard drive. Quarterback Cole Brown threw to Avery Brown for a 36-yard touchdown. Aiden Mason kicked the PAT, and the Rebels led 7-0 two minutes into the first frame.

Camden went three-and-out on their first possession. The punt was downed at the Lion 42.

After an incomplete pass, Arline took a handoff 42 yards for the score. Mason missed a long PAT after a delay of game penalty, and McKenzie led 13-0 with eight minutes left in the first.

The Lions went three-and-out again, but a bad snap on the punt attempt gave the Rebels a short field at the Camden 23.

A pair of penalties against McKenzie negated two big plays, including a touchdown run by C. Brown, but the QB found A. Brown again for a seven-yard touchdown. Another missed PAT kept the Rebel lead at 19-0 with 3:27 to go in the opening quarter.

McKenzie forced another Lion three-and-out, but a fumble on the punt return gave Camden the ball back at the Rebel 15.

The Rebel defense held again, forcing a turnover on downs at the 13.

McKenzie drew two penalty flags and struggled to move the ball as the first frame ended. On the first play of the second quarter, a deep pass by C. Brown was intercepted by Lion Antoinne Banks and returned to the Rebel 20.

Camden was primed to score after a third-down pass set up first-and-goal at the 6, but a high snap led to a big loss. A couple of incomplete passes made it fourth-and-goal at the 26. McKenzie was penalized for pass interference in the end zone, and fourth down was replayed at the 13. Another bad snap resulted in a sack by Rebels Maddox Shiell and Dawson Reeder, and McKenzie took over at their 24.

The Rebels managed one first down, but were forced to punt and Camden took over at their own 28.

Shiell tackled Banks for a loss on first down, then Rebel Mason Batten recovered a Lion fumble at the 18.

Rebel Matteo Tabada ran for four, then C. Brown threw to Aiden Legens for 12 yards. Brown then punched it in on a two-yard keeper. Lelan Gordon ran for the two-point conversion, and McKenzie led 27-0 with four minutes to play in the first half.

Camden drew a flag on the kickoff return and started at their 10. Shiell again tackled Banks for a loss, then the Rebel defense pressured quarterback Jake Reynoldson in the end zone. The QB threw the ball out of bounds, drawing an intentional grounding penalty, which resulted in a safety and two points for McKenzie. The Rebels led 29-0 with three minutes remaining in the second quarter.

Camden kicked off to the Rebels from their own 20. A fumble on the return was recovered by Rebel Davarion Gilbert, and McKenzie started at the Lion 47.

The Rebels earned two first downs, then C. Brown kept for a 14-yard touchdown. Mason kicked the PAT, and McKenzie led 36-0.

Camden started with good field position near midfield, but earned just six yards before turning the ball over on downs.

The Rebels overcame three penalties to score again on a 22-yard pass from Brown to Tabada. Another good kick by Mason made it 43-0 eleven seconds before halftime.

The Lions managed just one play before time expired.

The third and fourth quarters were each eight minutes with a running clock.

Camden received the ball to start the second half and got on the board with an eight-play, 92-yard drive capped by a 26-yard pass from Reynoldson to Kade Johnson. The PAT cut McKenzie’s lead to 43-7.

A short kick and a good return by Reeder gave the Rebels good field position. They earned one first down and ran out the third quarter, but started the fourth on a fourth down and long. A high snap delayed C. Brown's punt, and it was blocked and returned for a touchdown by Lion Isaiah Goodwin. Cavan Carroll kicked the PAT, and Camden had the deficit down to 43-14.

McKenzie started with good position again thanks to a good return by Jacobi Melton and burned half of the remaining clock with a six-play, 38-yard drive. Tabada scored from two yards out, and Mason kicked for a 50-14 Rebel lead.

The Lions managed a first down, but ended the game on a fourth down try with Rebel Aiden Callis getting a sack as Reynoldson dropped back to pass.

McKenzie had 404 yards of total offense, 240 in the air and 164 on the ground. Camden was held to 73 total yards, earning 119 in the air but losing 46 yards on the ground.

The Rebels earned 18 first downs and held the Lions to five. McKenzie was six of eight on third downs, while Camden was three of ten. The Rebel defense blanked the Lions of fourth down conversions, 0-for-5.

A weak spot for McKenzie was penalties as they racked up 20 compared to Camden's two.

Rebel quarterback Cole Brown was 15 of 23, passing for 240 yards and three touchdowns. He also had eleven carries for 62 yards and two touchdowns.

Timmy Arline had two carries for 51 yards and a touchdown. Matteo Tabada rushed nine times for 51 yards and a touchdown.

Avery Brown had three receptions for 64 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Jacobi Melton caught five passes for 56 yards. Lelan Gordon had three catches for 43 yards. Aiden Legens had a pair of receptions for 34 yards, and Tabada caught one pass for a 22-yard touchdown.

Maddox Shiell led the defense with six solo tackles and two assists, including three for a loss and a sack. Lelan Gordon had five solos and two assists. Mason Batten recorded four solo and two assists with two for losses and a sack.

Jacion Townes had four solo and three assisted tackles. Aiden Legens had three solo and two assists with one sack. Dawson Reeder had three solo and two assists. Aiden Callis had three solo tackles and two assists, including two for a loss and a sack. Cole Brown had two solo and an assist with a sack.

McKenzie travels to Chester County Friday. Kickoff is 7 p.m.