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McKENZIE (October 2) — McKenzie High School celebrated Homecoming Friday night with a huge region win over Gibson County, 56-7.
Following pregame festivities, including the crowning of the Homecoming queen, the Rebels got straight to work with a 28-point first frame and cruised to the blowout victory.
The Pioneers received the opening kickoff, but the McKenzie defense forced a quick three-and-out aided by two fumbled snaps. Rebel Rashad McCreary blocked Hayden Crandall’s punt, and Logan Lyles picked it up and took it 15 yards for a touchdown. Zach Aird kicked the point-after, and the Rebels led 7-0 two minutes into the contest.
Gibson County went three-and-out again. Rebel Will Latimer received the punt near the 40 and returned it to the McKenzie 46.
Lyles started the Rebels’ first offensive possession with a six-yard run, then Caleb Gill ran twice for nine total to move the chains. Marquez Taylor followed with a 39-yard touchdown. Aird’s PAT made it 14-0 halfway through the opening quarter.
Pioneer Damarea Smith received Aird’s kickoff deep at the 10. As Taylor made the stop, Smith fumbled and Rebel Drew Chappell made the recovery at the 16.
McKenzie turned the turnover into points on one play, a pass from quarterback Jackson Cassidy to Taylor. Aird kicked, and the Rebels led 21-0 with 5:53 remaining in the first.
The Rebel defense made it three straight three-and-outs, and the Gibson County punt was downed at the McKenzie 39.
After a first-down false start penalty, Taylor blew past the Pioneer defense for 60 yards down to the 6. A fumble on first-and-goal resulted in no gain, then Cassidy threw to Lyles for three yards. Gill punched it in from the 3, and Aird’s kick gave the Rebels a 28-0 lead with just under three minutes to play in the first.
Pioneer Colton Lumpkin received the ensuing kick near the 12 and made a huge return to the McKenzie 25. The Rebel defense held strong again, and quarterback John Phillips threw incomplete on a fourth-down try to give McKenzie the ball at the 22.
Cassidy started with a quick throw to Latimer for five yards, then Taylor went eleven for a first down as the quarter ended. Cassidy found Latimer again on the first play of the second for 52 yards. On first-and-goal from the 10, Gill scored on a pair of five-yard runs. Aird stayed perfect on point-after kicks, and the Rebels led 35-0 with 10:43 remaining in the first half.