Welcome to our new web site!

To give our readers a chance to experience all that our new website has to offer, we have made all content freely avaiable, through October 1, 2018.

During this time, print and digital subscribers will not need to log in to view our stories or e-editions.

McKenzie Wins Homecoming Contest

Posted

McKENZIE (September 24) — McKenzie celebrated Homecoming with events during the week including a bonfire last Thursday night and a parade through town during the day last Friday. Then on to the traditional crowning of the Homecoming Queen prior to the game Friday night. Sadie O’Brian was crowned this year’s football Homecoming Queen.

On to the game, the Rebels played host to undefeated cross-county rival West Carroll. The War Eagles won the toss and elected to receive the ball first. The Rebel defense was stiff as West Carroll lost yardage before having to punt from deep in their territory.

McKenzie wasted no time moving the ball from their own 35 starting with a screen pass that went for 13 yards. Running back Marquez Taylor got loose down to the War Eagle 30. Quarterback Jackson Cassidy went to the air for a 30-yard touchdown strike to Zay Webber. Zach Aird was good on the extra-point giving the Rebels an early 7-0 lead.

After the Stafford Roditis kickoff was received by Malik Lee, the War Eagles started their second possession from their own 30 and didn’t gain much before having to punt again. McKenzie was penalized for roughing the kicker which gave West Carroll a new set of downs from near midfield. A couple of plays later, Jay Long got loose for a 37-yard run giving the War Eagles a first down on the Rebel 4. Quarterback Xander Moon scored on a one-yard touchdown run a couple of plays later. Jose Martinez hit the extra point to tie the game 7-7.

The score wasn’t tied long as Rashad McCreary got loose on the next possession for a 77-yard touchdown run stiff-arming several War Eagle defenders during the run. Aird was good on the extra point giving the Rebels a 14-7 lead late in the first quarter.

The Rebel defense continued making it difficult for West Carroll to move the ball as the War Eagles had to punt away their ensuing possession. Seth Edwards got off a long punt that gave McKenzie possession at their own 19. The Rebels were in West Carroll territory after double digit runs by Jackson Cassidy and Rashad McCreary. Cassidy completed a pass but the ball came loose with West Carroll recovering the ball. A few plays later West Carroll fumbled it back to the Rebels at their own 46.

McKenzie went back to their ground game and scored a few plays later on a 5-yard run by Marquez Taylor with 5:54 left in the second quarter. Aird was good on his third extra point attempt extending the Rebel lead to 21-7.

McKenzie got the ball back quickly when Camden Allison intercepted a Xander Moon pass on the first play following the kickoff. Two plays later, Taylor was in the endzone again on a 44-yard touchdown run. Aird’s extra point attempt was blocked leaving the score 27-7.

West Carroll moved the ball to near midfield on their next possession thanks to a Xander Moon pass catch that went 38 yards. The Rebel defense allowed nothing after that forcing the War Eagles into a fourth down play. A West Carroll throw landed incomplete which gave McKenzie possession near midfield. A few plays later, Cassidy connected with Andrew Cole for a 26-yard touchdown pass. Aird’s extra point was good for a 34-7 lead at halftime.

McKenzie took the kickoff to start the third quarter and wasted no time moving downfield behind double digit runs by Marquez Taylor and Rashad McCreary. A touchdown pass to Zack Aird was nullified by a penalty but Jackson Cassidy scored on a 10-yard run shortly after. Aird’s extra point attempt was blocked giving the Rebels a 40-7 lead.

McKenzie scored again on their next possession after forcing West Carroll to go three plays and punt. Marquez Taylor took the ball off the right side for a 57-yard touchdown. Aird was good on the extra point making the score 47-7. The mercy rule went into effect with the clock running constantly the remainder of the game.

The Rebels struck again when Andrew Cole picked off a pass and took it 20 yards for McKenzie’s final score of the night. Aird was good on the extra point for a 54-7 lead.

Both teams played their younger players in the fourth quarter as the clock wound down. McKenzie remains unbeaten at 6-0 and plays host to Dresden in a district contest. West Carroll is 5-1 and plays host to Lake County in a key district contest for the War Eagles.

The Rebels rolled up 437 total yards in offense while holding the War Eagles to 113 total yards. Marquez Taylor, a D1 college prospect, had 9 rushes for 210 yards and three touchdowns. Jackson Cassidy was 7-12 passing for 93 yards and two touchdowns.