Rebels Roll at Chester County, 41-7

HENDERSON (September 26) —- McKenzie traveled to Chester County High School Friday for a non-region football contest and came home with a 41-7 victory.

The host Eagles stunned the large contingent of Rebel faithful that made the trip with a touchdown on the first play of the game, but 41 unanswered points gave the McKenzie fans plenty to cheer about.

Eagle Chase Daniel received the opening kickoff and returned it 96 yards for a touchdown. The point-after kick was good, and Chester County led 7-0 with 19 seconds off the clock.

A touchback started the Rebels at their 20. They earned three first downs to push into Eagle territory, but a penalty and a sack drove them back into McKenzie territory and forced a punt. Cole Brown’s punt pinned Chester County at their 8.

The first snap resulted in a fumble in the end zone and a safety. Halfway through the first frame, McKenzie cut the deficit to 7-2.

The Rebels received the Eagle kick and started at their 32. A good mix of runs by Brown, Matteo Tabada and Jayden Callis yielded four first downs, aided by a pair of Chester County penalties. The 12-play drive was capped by a 19-yard touchdown pass from Brown to Lelan Gordon. Aiden Mason kicked the PAT, and McKenzie had a 9-7 lead with half a minute left in the opening quarter.

The Eagles managed two first downs, one on a Rebel penalty, but stalled and punted.

McKenzie struck again, going 66 yards on five plays. Brown threw to Avery Brown for a 34-yard score. Mason kicked again, and the Rebels led 16-7 halfway through the second quarter.

The Rebel defense was locked in and forced a three-and-out.

The punt gave McKenzie a long field, but they went 78 yards on ten plays. C. Brown again found A. Brown, this time for 13 yards. The PAT was wide, but the Rebel lead was up to 22-7 with a minute to play before the break.

The Eagles managed just three plays before time expired.

McKenzie got the ball to start the second half and started at midfield thanks to a failed onside kick attempt by Chester County. Seven plays later, C. Brown hit Jacobi Melton from nine yards out. A fumble spoiled the PAT, and the Rebel lead was 28-7 with 8:45 to play in the third.

A single first down was all the Eagles could muster before punting once again.

The Rebels took over at the Chester County 44. C. Brown threw to A. Brown for 15, then to Melton for nine. Callis moved the chains with a seven-yard carry, then C. Brown went 13 to paydirt. The two-point try failed, and McKenzie led 34-7 with under five minutes to play in the third frame.

The Eagles started at their 36, and Jaden Weaver threw to Braylin Robinson for 26 yards into Rebel territory. A penalty backed them up on the next play, and three plays later, they punted.

Starting from the 20, Callis ran twice for a first down, then Tabada ran for another. Melton caught a short pass from C. Brown and ran on a tightrope down the sideline before stepping out at the 6. Tabada gained three, then C. Brown did the same for the touchdown. Mason got back on track with a good PAT kick, and McKenzie led 41-7 with half a minute remaining in the third.

A fumble on the kickoff was recovered by Gordon to give the Rebels the ball again in Eagle territory.

The Rebels substituted heavily and kept the ball on the ground to drain the running clock. They would turn it over on down with about six minutes left.

Chester County ran the ball eight times, then Grayson Stewart threw a deep pass to Jamerion Thomas, who was stopped just short of the end zone as time expired.

McKenzie had 528 yards of total offense, 278 in the air and 250 on the ground. They held the Eagles to 119 yards total, 83 in the air and 36 on the ground.

Rebel quarterback Cole Brown was 16 of 20 passing for 278 yards and four touchdowns. He also had 13 carries for 107 yards and two touchdowns.

Jayden Callis had 13 carries for 91 yards, and Matteo Tabada rushed eight times for 41 yards.

Jacobi Melton had ten receptions for 147 yards and a touchdown. Avery Brown caught five passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns. Lelan Gordon had one catch, a 19-yard touchdown.

Dawson Reeder and Jacion Townes each had three solo tackles and three assists. Cole Brown had three solo and an assist, including one for a loss. Lelan Gordon had three solo and two assists. Maddox Shiell had two solo and two assists. Aiden Callis had two solo, including a sack. Xander Johnsey had two solo and three assists. Aiden Legens and Mason Batten each had two solo and an assist. Hunter Winstead had two solo tackles.

The Rebels are on the road again this week in Collinwood, a region opponent. Kickoff is 7 p.m.