Rebels End Season with Heartbreaker in Memphis

MEMPHIS (November 29) — The McKenzie Rebels traveled to the Bluff City on Black Friday for a TSSAA Football Semifinal with a trip to the state championship on the line. They met the MASE Phoenix at Crump Stadium and stormed out to a 19-0 lead in the second quarter. MASE cut into the deficit, but a Rebel touchdown to start the second half gave McKenzie a 22-point lead and seemingly a smooth path to victory. The Phoenix climbed back with 28 unanswered points to claim the lead in the final minute for a 40-34 win.

McKenzie won the coin toss and deferred possession.

The kickoff was muffed by the Phoenix and recovered by Rebel Gage Crosland at the MASE 16.

Back-to-back penalties against the Rebels moved the ball back 15 yards. Then, on fourth-and-21, Rebel quarterback Tate Surber threw to Cole Brown in the end zone. There was contact by the defender and a flag was thrown, but after some discussion the flag was waved off and MASE took over on downs.

The Phoenix earned three first downs, converting one fourth down, but on fourth-and-six, quarterback Brody Whitaker threw an interception to Rebel Lelan Gordon.

Taking over at the McKenzie 38, Surber threw to Avery Brown for 61 yards, then punched it in on a keeper from the 1. Guillermo Hickman kicked the PAT, and the Rebels led 7-0 with five minutes to play in the opening frame.

The Phoenix went three-and-out and punted.

McKenzie started at their 32. Surber threw incomplete, then found Matteo Tabada for 18 yards. Next, Surber threw to Colt Norden for 39. The QB kept for eight, then for a three-yard touchdown. The PAT was no good, and the Rebels led 13-0 with 21 seconds left in the first quarter.

MASE earned a first down just before the end of the quarter and another to start the second, but were forced to punt.

On the first snap of the drive, Surber threw to C. Brown for a 75-yard touchdown. Another missed kick made the score 19-0 with 9:21 to play in the second frame.

A MASE penalty on the kickoff return backed the Phoenix to their 15, and Whitaker’s first pass was intercepted by Surber. A good return was marred by a penalty, and the Rebels took over at the MASE 43.

McKenzie quickly faced fourth down, but Surber converted on a keeper. On the next play, Surber’s pass was tipped and intercepted by Kadience Nelson, who returned it 66 yards for a touchdown. The Phoenix failed the two-point conversion, but the Rebel lead was cut to 19-6 halfway through the second quarter.

The Rebels scored again on a seven-play, 65-yard drive capped by a 13-yard keeper by Surber. He threw to Craegen Travis for the two-point conversion, and McKenzie led 27-6 with three minutes to play in the first half.

MASE responded with a 65-yard drive, also on seven plays, culminating with a ten-yard pass from Whitaker to Nelson. The two-point conversion failed, and McKenzie led 27-12 with 21 seconds left in the half.

The Rebels received the kick and took a knee to end the half.

McKenzie received the second-half kick and drove 83 yards on eight plays, with Surber throwing to Brown for a 31-yard touchdown. Hickman kicked the PAT, and McKenzie led 34-12 with eight minutes to play in the third.

MASE’s Deuante Jones returned the ensuing kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown. The Rebels thwarted the two-point attempt and led 34-18 with just under eight minutes to play in the third.

Rebel Jacobi Melton returned the kickoff about 20 yards to the McKenzie 40, and the Rebels drove down the field for a first-and-goal at the 4. Surber was stopped for a two-yard loss as the third ended and was stopped for no gain on the first play of the final frame. Surber was intercepted on the next play for a Phoenix touchback.

MASE drove all the way down to the 8, but failed to convert a fourth-and-two, and the Rebels took over on downs with 8:26 remaining in the contest.

McKenzie earned two first downs, but stalled and faced fourth-and-long. A high snap prevented the Rebels from getting off the punt, and MASE took over at the Rebel 1.

The McKenzie defense held on first down, but then Whitaker threw to Jones for the touchdown. He threw to Nelson for two points, and the Rebel lead was down to 34-26 with four minutes on the clock.

The Rebels went three-and-out and punted with just over three minutes left.

MASE advanced the ball into McKenzie territory but then faced third-and-ten. The Rebels had a moment of elation as it appeared they had recovered a fumble, but instead McKenzie was called for a penalty and the Phoenix had a fresh set of downs. Two plays later, Whitaker threw to Nelson for a 35-yard touchdown. He threw to Jones to tie the game at 34-34 with just over two minutes to play.

Three plays into the Rebels’ next drive, MASE intercepted a pass and took over at the McKenzie 41.

Whitaker completed two passes, the latter to Christopher Watson for an eleven-yard touchdown. The two-point try failed, but the Phoenix had a 40-34 lead with half a minute to play.

Surber completed a 12-yard pass to C. Brown, then ran for eleven for a first down at midfield. With six seconds remaining, Surber threw deep, but Jones picked off the pass as time expired.

Rebel quarterback Tate Surber was 15 of 28 passing for 331 yards with two touchdowns. He rushed 26 times for 112 yards and three touchdowns.

Cole Brown had six receptions for 130 yards and two touchdowns. Avery Brown had three catches for 115 yards, and Colt Norden had three for 51.

Norden led the defense with four tackles and one assist. KD Cunningham had three tackles, including a sack. Landon Brown had two tackles (one for a loss) and two assists.

McKenzie ends the season 13-1.