Rebels Shake Off Slow Start for 28-0 Round Two Win

McKENZIE (November 15) — McKenzie High School hosted Eagleville Friday for a second-round contest in the TSSAA Football Playoffs. The Eagles held the Rebels to a single first-half touchdown, but McKenzie’s defense was even more staunch from start to finish for a 28-0 shutout victory.

The Rebels will host Richland in Friday’s quarterfinal round.

McKenzie won the coin toss and elected to defer possession.

A pair of runs earned Eagleville a first down, but big stops by Rebels Cole Brown and Craegen Travis and a third-down pass batted away by Landon Brown led to a punt.

The Rebels earned a first down on a keeper by quarterback Tate Surber, but the drive stalled and McKenzie punted.

Stops by Travis and Maddox Shiell led to an Eagle three-and-out. Jacobi Melton received the punt and returned it to the Rebel 47.

Skyler Fornera carried twice for eleven yards and a first down. Two plays later, Surber threw to C. Brown for another first down at the Eagle 30. Fornera and Surber combined runs for another first, then Surber went 8 to the 6. Colt Norden ran for two, then for a four-yard touchdown. Fornera kicked the PAT, and McKenzie led 7-0 with 1:46 left in the opening frame.

Eagleville earned a pair of first downs to finish the first quarter and start the second, both aided by McKenzie penalties, but barely ventured into Rebel territory before stalling out. The punt went out of bounds at the 12.

An eleven-play drive with five first downs ended with a turnover on downs at the Eagle 8.

After another quick three-and-out, Eagleville punted.

McKenzie managed one first down and got down to the 20 before halftime.

Rebel Guillermo Hickman received the second-half kick inside the 30 and returned it to the McKenzie 43. Surber threw incomplete, then found Norden for 12 yards and a first down. He connected with C. Brown for 20, then kept for 13. From the 12, Fornera ran twice for six yards each to complete the scoring drive. He then kicked the PAT, and the Rebels led 14-0 less than two minutes into the third quarter.

Fornera, Travis and Barry Swalley made stops to force another Eagleville three-and-out. After the punt, the Rebels took over at their 20.

Surber threw to Avery Brown for 30 yards to start the drive. Two plays later, Fornera ran for eight. He repeated for three yards and a first down. Surber threw to Fornera for ten, then to a sliding Norden for 20 more. Surber kept for six, then for an eight-yard touchdown. Fornera’s kick made it 21-0 with 4:26 to play in the third.

After another Eagle three-and-out, the punt was downed at the 17.

McKenzie also went three-and-out, and the punt was downed at the Eagle 35.

Eagle quarterback Daymin Pruitt completed three consecutive passes to Marshall Fields for two first downs, then Kaleb Snitzer ran for four as the quarter ended. On the first play of the final frame, Pruitt was intercepted by Martez Teague at the Rebel 5.

The Rebels kept it on the ground to expend the clock, mixing runs by Norden, Surber and Fornera. Surber capped the 12-play drive with a seven-yard touchdown run. Fornera completed a perfect night of PATs, and McKenzie led 28-0 halfway through the fourth.

Eagleville earned a pair of first downs before Surber forced a fumble. Rebel Gage Crosland made the recovery at the 29.

The Rebels moved the chains twice to run out the clock.

McKenzie had 485 yards of total offense, 194 in the air and 291 on the ground. The defense held Eagleville to 107 yards (50 passing, 57 rushing).

Rebel quarterback Tate Surber was eleven of 25 passing for 194 yards. He rushed 15 times for 108 yards and two touchdowns.

Skyler Fornera rushed 13 times for 98 yards and a touchdown. Colt Norden had 13 carries for 85 yards and a touchdown.

Cole Brown had four catches for 97 yards. Norden had four catches for 60 yards.

Landon Brown led the defense with nine tackles (one for a loss) and three assists. Fornera had six tackles and two assists. Craegan Travis had five tackles and two assists.