Mustangs Hang on to Top Rebels in Thrilling Season Opener, 28-21

HUNTINGDON (August 21) — It’s not often that a high school football season opens with a defending state champion and state runner-up mashing helmets, but the Huntingdon High School Mustangs (2025 Class 2A champs) hosted their rival McKenzie Rebels (1A runner-up) for a game that lived up to the hype and the history.

The Rebels struck first, but the Mustangs would come back to lead by two scores twice. McKenzie had a shot to tie or take the lead at the very end, but a timely Huntingdon interception sealed a 28-21 win.

Prior to the game, a brief ceremony was held to commemorate the naming of the playing surface “Eric Swenson Field” in honor of the head coach’s championship and all-time Huntingdon wins record.

Also during the pregame, athletes from the other HHS fall sports teams waved a massive American Flag, donated to the school by Woodmen Life, as the HHS and MHS marching band performed the National Anthem.

At halftime, the 2026 state champion Huntingdon Fillies basketball team was honored and presented rings.

McKenzie won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff, a touchback by Mustang Greyson Anderson. Rebel Jayden Callis earned a first down on two carries, then moved the chains again on a five-yard gain coupled with a Huntingdon penalty. McKenzie’s drive stalled near midfield, and a fourth-down pass from Cole Brown to Matteo Tabada was complete, but short of the line to gain.

The Mustangs took over and quickly went three-and-out. Rebels Aiden Carrington, Lelan Gordon and Cayden Gordon made big stops to force the punt.

The Rebels started at their own 18 and soon faced third down, but a Mustang penalty moved the chains. Callis ran four straight times for a couple of first downs. C. Brown kept for five, and Callis followed with a 16-yard carry to the 16. Carrington ran for 12, then Callis took it to the 1. C. Brown recovered from a high snap to get in for the touchdown. Jony Hernandez kicked the PAT, and McKenzie led 7-0 with half a minute remaining in the first frame.

Huntingdon went three-and-out again as the second quarter got underway.

McKenzie started deep again after another good punt by Mustang Hayes Eubanks. Callis ran three times for a first down, the latter a forward lunge on third-and-inches. A penalty on the next snap doomed the drive, and three plays later, the Rebels punted.

Huntingdon had great field position, starting at the McKenzie 44. Colt Wood ran for seven yards, then Eubanks moved the chains. Mustang quarterback Kenton Smith kept twice for short gains, then Eubanks earned a first down. Smith kept again to the 6, then repeated for a touchdown. Anderson hit the PAT, and the game was tied at 7-7 halfway through the second frame.

A penalty on the kickoff return set the Rebels back deep, and the Mustang defense forced another three-and-out.

On the ensuing drive, Smith threw incomplete, then ran for a 58-yard touchdown. Anderson’s PAT gave the Mustangs a 14-7 lead with two minutes remaining in the half.

McKenzie earned a pair of first downs, but stalled at midfield and punted with half a minute remaining.

Huntingdon ran one play before the break.

The Mustangs received the ball to start the second half. Big stops by Rebels Cooper Davidson and Aiden Essary forced a three-and-out, but a fumble on fourth down prevented a punt.

The Rebels took over in Mustang territory, but quickly faced fourth down. A pass interference penalty gave McKenzie a fresh set of downs. Callis and C. Brown combined runs for a first-and-goal, but Huntingdon made three stops and a fourth-down fumble turned the ball over on downs.

On the third play of the ensuing drive, Smith ran 93 yards for a Mustang touchdown. The PAT made it 21-7 with four minutes left in the third frame.

A good return paired with a Huntingdon penalty started the Rebel drive at the Mustang 35. C. Brown kept for 14, then Callis gained five on a pair of carries. C. Brown threw to Jacobi Melton for eight and a first-and-goal, then Callis punched it in. Hernandez kicked, and the Rebel deficit was 21-14 in the final minute of the third.

A pair of runs by Eubanks, plus a McKenzie penalty, moved the chains to start Huntingdon’s drive. Two plays later, Smith threw to Bryson Whiteside for a first down. C. Gordon, Hunter Winstead and Davidson made big stops to force fourth down, but Smith threw to Garvin Kee for a 32-yard touchdown. Anderson completed a perfect night of PATs, and the Mustangs led 28-14 with just under eight minutes left in the fourth quarter.

On McKenzie’s first snap, C. Brown threw deep to a wide-open Melton for an 81-yard touchdown. Hernandez made it a perfect 3-for-3 on PATs, and Huntingdon’s lead was 28-21 with seven minutes to play.

The Mustangs kept it on the ground to keep the clock moving. Eubanks, Smith and Wood took turns, earning two first downs. The drive stalled on good defense by Rebels Dawson Reeder, L. Gordon and Parker Ross, and Eubanks punted with a minute and a half to play.

The Rebels played fast to race the clock, starting with a 20-yard pass from C. Brown to Melton. A penalty backed them up on the next snap, and an incomplete pass brought up third-and-long. C. Brown found Avery for 20 yards and a first down. Cole’s next pass was intercepted by Mustang Zayden Connelly with 13 seconds to play. Tensions flared between the teams, drawing a shower of yellow flags.

After the officials sorted out the penalties, some offsetting, to determine the spot of the ball, Smith took a knee to expire the clock.

As the final seconds ran off, animosity faded and the players congratulated each other on a great game and wished each other success going forward.

Huntingdon stays home next week to host another historical rival, Camden, while the Rebels remain on the road at Dresden.