Rebels Roll Raiders, Travel to Memphis for Semifinal

McKENZIE (November 22) — The road to Chattanooga goes through Memphis for the McKenzie Rebels, who crushed the Richland Raiders 55-7 in Friday night’s TSSAA Football Quarterfinal.

The undefeated Rebels will travel to Memphis on Black Friday to face one-loss MASE. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Crump Stadium, located at 305 S Cleveland Street on the campus of Central High School.

The winner advances to the state championship game at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga on Friday, December 6 at 3 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time), facing the winner of Coalfield vs. South Pittsburg.

Richland won the toss and deferred possession.

Rebel Cole Brown received the opening kick at the 10 and returned it to the 38. Skyler Fornera kept for nine yards, then quarterback Tate Surber kept for four and a first down. Fornera made a short gain, then Surber threw to C. Brown for 12. Surber and Fornera alternated runs, then Surber threw to Craegen Travis for a 17-yard touchdown. Fornera kicked the PAT, and McKenzie led 7-0 with eight minutes left in the first frame.

Richland went three-and-out on their first possession, with Barry Swalley and C. Brown making big stops. The punt was downed at the Raider 43.

Surber threw to Avery Brown for a 43-yard touchdown on the first snap. Fornera kicked, and the Rebels led 14-0 halfway through the first.

On the ensuing drive, Raider quarterback Blane Woodard kept for a short gain, then threw an interception to C. Brown, who returned it 29 yards for a touchdown. Fornera’s PAT made it 21-0 with five minutes left in the first quarter.

Richland’s lone score came on an eight-play, 73-yard drive capped by a 39-yard pass from Woodard to Jake Sands. AJ Bates kicked the PAT, and McKenzie led 21-7 with 1:32 left in the first.

C. Brown made another good kickoff return to set McKenzie up at their 37. Colt Norden ran for 15 yards into Richland territory. Two plays later, Surber threw to Brown as the quarter ended. Fornera was stopped for no gain to start the second, bringing up fourth-and-five. Surber gained eight on a delayed run to move the chains, then threw to A. Brown for 19. Three plays later, Surber threw to Norden for a 15-yard score. Fornera kicked, and the Rebels led 28-7 early in the second quarter.

The Raiders earned one first down, but the drive stalled and Bates punted.

McKenzie burned over six minutes of clock with a 13-play, 77-yard drive capped by a five-yard touchdown pass from Surber to C. Brown. Fornera’s PAT gave the Rebels a 35-7 lead with 1:43 left in the half.

On Richland’s first play, Woodard was picked off by Surber.

Taking over at the Raider 41, Surber threw to Norden for 28. Two plays later, the two connected again for a 12-yard touchdown. Fornera made it 42-7 with 28 seconds left in the second quarter.

Richland ran two plays before time expired.

The Raiders received the second half kick, and Woodard threw to Sands for 49 yards to get deep into Rebel territory. McKenzie stifled the drive, and Woodard threw incomplete on fourth-and-five at the 16.

The Rebels went 84 yards on 12 plays, with Norden getting the two-yard rushing touchdown. The PAT was a miss, and McKenzie led 48-7 late in the third.

Richland advanced the ball into Rebel territory to end the quarter, but two plays into the fourth, Rebel KD Cunningham forced a fumble. Maddox Shiell made the recovery and a return to the Raider 42.

Matteo Tabada had four straight carries for McKenzie, earning a pair of first downs, then Surber kept for a 16-yard touchdown. Guillermo Hickman kicked the PAT, and the Rebels led 55-7 halfway through the final frame.

Richland went three-and-out, and Surber took a knee to run out the clock.

McKenzie had 408 yards of total offense (280 passing, 128 rushing) and held Richland to 163 (132 passing, 31 rushing).

Rebel quarterback Tate Surber was 22 of 25 passing for 280 yards and five touchdowns. He rushed 14 times for 76 yards and one touchdown.

Skyler Fornera had nine carries for 35 yards.

Colt Norden had eight receptions for 123 yards and two touchdowns. Avery Brown had three catches for 70 yards and a touchdown. Cole Brown had seven catches for 55 yards and a touchdown. Craegen Travis caught one pass for a 17-yard touchdown.

Fornera led the defense with seven tackles and three assists. Landon Brown had five tackles and two assists.