Rebels Close Season with Win

McKENZIE (September 25) — The McKenzie Middle School Rebels closed the football season with a 22-6 win over Camden Thursday and celebrated Eighth Grade Night.

Eighth grade players and cheerleaders were recognized on the field, and their parents stood in the stands to be recognized.

Eighth grade Rebel players include Jackson Barden, Seth Stafford, Lane Brown, Jaibreon Horton, Dierks Ghyers, Cooper Jones, Kamden Lee, Tyler Davis, Zayden Webb, Ryan McCann, Jake Ghyers, McCoy Merrick, Jeremy Sims, Leighem Broyles, Parker Standridge, Kage Gwaltney, Fisher Allen, Case Wall, Riley Crafton, Andrew Arnold, Brenton Hickerson and Reid Warman.

Eighth grade cheerleaders are Caleigh Ball, Maggie Webb, Sami Mathis and Adrianna Paige Gordon.

McKenzie won the toss but elected to defer to begin the game. Camden ended their first drive having to punt to the Rebels.

McKenzie started with Seth Stafford keeping the ball three times for a first down. Camden’s defense held McKenzie to a punt.

To begin their second drive, Camden ran to the outside for a touchdown, but it was called back on a penalty against them.

The Rebels received the ball back after a punt and scored on a 49-yard touchdown run to the outside by Seth Stafford. The two-point conversion was good by Jake Ghyers, making the score McKenzie 8, Camden 0.

The Rebel defense held the Lions’ third drive to a punt.

Seth Stafford kept the ball and ran to the outside for a 65-yard touchdown. Ghyers’ two-point conversion was good, making it McKenzie 16, Camden 0.

McKenzie kicked the ball off to Camden for their fourth drive, and the defense kept the Lions from scoring before halftime.

McKenzie received the ball for the beginning of the second half. They marched down the field, and Ghyers ran the ball down the middle for a 14-yard touchdown. Ghyers then ran the two-point conversion to make it McKenzie 22, Camden 0.

Stafford kicked it off to Camden for their first drive of the second half. Camden slowly marched down the field to end the third quarter. In the fourth, the Lion quarterback threw for a 15-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion was no good, making it McKenzie 22, Camden 6. Camden kicked off to McKenzie for their second drive of the half, and the Rebels punted.

The McKenzie defense held the Camden offense to a turnover on downs with a loss of five yards on a tackle by Stafford.

Stafford then took a knee twice to end the game.

The McKenzie Middle School Rebels ended their season with four wins and three losses.