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High School Football

Rebels Rout Lions 52-19 on Senior Night

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McKENZIE (October 9) — McKenzie High School celebrated Senior Night Friday with a 52-19 blowout win over the visiting Dresden Lions. The Rebels dominated on both sides of the ball and jumped out to a 21-0 lead to cruise to victory.
Prior to the game, senior football players, cheerleaders and band members were recognized on the field, joined by family members.
Senior football players include Kaden Allen, Chris Barnett, Brandon Boaz, Ryan Christian, Will Latimer, Logan Lyles, Eli Surber, Tanner Waugh, Jordan Woods and manager Quynten VanWetter.
Senior cheerleaders are Ashlyn Drewry and Graycie Turner.
Senior Marching Rebels include Claire Cottrill, Austin Gant, Nicholas Smiley and Presley Wallace.
Following the senior recognitions, J. A. Abernathy Awards were presented to Coach Randy Thomas and Tammy Graves. The awards are presented annually by the Touchdown Club “in gratitude and recognition of your unselfish support of the McKenzie Rebel football teams.” Thomas is retiring after four decades of service to Rebel football, and Graves has served as the teams’ photographer for several years.
Dresden won the coin toss and deferred possession to the second half.
The Lions’ opening kickoff was short, and Rebel Eli Surber made a fair catch at the 35. Marquez Taylor started the drive with a nine-yard run, then Caleb Gill gained a yard to move the chains. Quarterback Jackson Cassidy threw to Logan Lyles for four yards, but a false start on the next play cost McKenzie five yards. Rashad McCreary ran for five, then Cassidy kept for 32 down to the 19. Gill earned three yards, then Cassidy kept for a 16-yard touchdown. Zach Aird kicked the point-after, and McKenzie led 7-0 with eight minutes to play in the first frame.
Dresden started deep at the 22 and went three-and-out. Rebel Will Latimer fair-caught the punt at the Lion 44.
Penalties plagued McKenzie’s second possession, resulting in a three-and-out. Aird’s punt was downed at the Dresden 44.
The Lions again went three-and-out. The punt went out of bounds at the Rebel 36.
Cassidy kept for 14 yards, then Taylor ran for nine. On second-and-one, a low snap forced Cassidy to throw the ball away. Gill then broke loose and got inside the 10 before fumbling. Dresden made the recovery at the 5.
Lion Chandler Turnbow ran for eleven and a first down, but the Rebel defense made three big stops as the quarter ended. Turnbow punted on the first play of the second frame, and Latimer made the fair catch at the Dresden 42.
Gill ran for 20, then Taylor went 22 for the score. Aird’s PAT made it 14-0 less than a minute into the second quarter.
The Lions went three-and-out for the third time in four possessions, and Latimer caught the punt near midfield and returned it to the 28.

Lyles ran for four yards, then Taylor went 24 for a touchdown. Aird hit the point-after, and McKenzie led 21-0 with 8:25 to play in the first half.
Dresden got on the board with a nine-play, 81-yard drive capped by a 16-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tatum Oliver to Raymond Johnson. The PAT failed, and the Lions’ deficit was 21-6 seven minute before intermission.
The Rebels started the ensuing drive at their 37. Cassidy kept for seven, then Gill went six to move the chains to midfield. Cassidy kept for three, then threw to Lyles for a 47-yard touchdown. Aird’s kick made it 28-6 with just under five minutes to play in the half.
McKenzie’s defense forced another three-and-out, and Latimer received the punt near midfield and made a short return.
Cassidy started the drive with a short throw to Latimer, who shook a Lion defender to get extra yardage and move the chains. Cassidy threw incomplete, then Gill dragged a pile of Lions for a 14-yard gain. Lyles ran inside for three, then McCreary gained six. A holding penalty made it third-and-eleven, and Cassidy threw incomplete. On fourth down, Aird kicked a 39-yard field goal that hit the cross bar and bounced over to increase the Rebel lead to 31-6 with under a minute on the clock.
Aird’s kickoff sailed into the end zone for a touchback, and Dresden managed just one play for no gain as time expired.
The Lions received the second-half kickoff but quickly went three-and-out. Latimer fair-caught the punt at the Rebel 40.
McKenzie scored on nine plays with Cassidy tossing to Taylor for a 14-yard touchdown. Aird kicked the PAT, and the Rebels led 38-6 with seven minutes to play in the third.
Dresden scored on two plays, a pass from Oliver to Johnson for 12 followed by a pass to Matthew Parker for the 53-yard score. The point-after was good, and the Lion deficit was 38-13 with 6:10 left in the third.
The Rebels answered with a seven-play, 92-yard drive capped by a 55-yard touchdown run by Taylor. Aird kicked to make it 45-13 with 3:32 to play in the third quarter.
After another three-and-out, Dresden’s punt was downed at the McKenzie 34.
After an incomplete pass, Cassidy found Lyles for eight yards, then McCreary went six for a first down. Cassidy kept for six, and Taylor gained a pair as the quarter ended. McCreary started the final frame with a seven-yard carry. A penalty set the Rebels back, and it was soon fourth-and-eight. Cassidy connected with Lyles for 15 yards, then Taylor went 20 for the score. Aird completed a perfect night on PATs, and McKenzie led 52-14 with under nine minutes to play in the contest.
The Lions started the ensuing drive at their 29. Cameron Schlicht took over at quarterback and threw to Trey Eddings for 12 yards. He then found Johnson for 44 down to the 15. A penalty on the next play made it second-and-24, and two runs by Turnbow brought up fourth-and-12 at the 17. Schlicht’s throw to the end zone was intercepted by Lyles, but he was called for pass interference. On a repeat of fourth down from the 9, Schlicht hit Johnson for the touchdown. After a missed PAT, McKenzie’s lead was 52-19.
The Rebels received the kickoff, and new quarterback Drew Chappell kept twice before time expired.
McKenzie (4-2, 2-1) travels to Union City (4-3, 2-1) for a region contest Friday. Kickoff is 7 p.m.