Rebels Edge Mustangs on Eighth Grade Night

McKENZIE (September 17) — McKenzie Middle School hosted Huntingdon Tuesday for the final home football game of the season. The game was rescheduled from the previous week due to weather. The Rebels scored two early touchdowns and held the Mustangs to one score for a 16-6 victory.

Prior to the game, eighth grade players and cheerleaders were recognized on the field.

Eighth grade Rebel players are: Parker Ross, Bryson Smith, Jaden Blanton, Reed Little, Cayden Gordon, Howard Poff, Routon Wilson, D’ante Webb, Dawson Reeder, Tucker Redmond, Bentlee Shands, Sammy Willen, Bryson Nolan, Brayden Mort, Hunter Shafer, Ashli Winston, Bentlee Farrell and Devin Dennie.

Eighth grade cheerleaders are Kinsley Wilson, Lola Sumrok, Frannie Trout, Mary Ryan Morris, Lillian Brown, Hadley Smith, Marlee Toombs, Kaleigh Champion and Belle Glisson.

Huntingdon won the toss but deferred possession.

The Rebels started at their 34 but were backed up by a penalty. Quarterback Parker Ross kept for a short gain, then Dawson Reeder ran for seven. Reeder then picked up six to move the chains. Ross kept for seven, then Reeder gained another six for another first down. The pattern continued with 19 by Ross and nine by Reeder, then Ross scored from a yard out. Ross ran it in for two more points, and McKenzie led 8-0 with 4:11 to play in the opening frame.

The Mustangs started at their own 40. Kingston Smith was stopped by Cayden Gordon for no gain, but got 24 yards on the second try to move the chains. Two penalties and a fumble doomed the drive, and Mustang Noah Webb punted on the final play of the first quarter. Ross received the punt near the 30 and made a good return to midfield, but a penalty backed McKenzie to the 29.

Reeder ran for six, then Ross took it 64 yards for a touchdown. He then kept on the conversion, stretching the ball across the line for two points and a 16-0 Rebel lead 21 seconds into the second quarter.

Huntingdon started at the 43, and K. Smith ran it on eight out of nine plays, culminating in a 12-yard touchdown on fourth-and-one. K. Smith was stopped on the two-point try, and the McKenzie lead was 16-6 with 2:30 to play in the half.

The teams traded fumbles, with recoveries made by Mustang Jasper Drinkard and Rebel Jaden Blanton.

The Rebels threatened in the final seconds of the half, reaching the Mustang 10 before time expired.

Huntingdon came out of the break moving the ball well. A big pass from K. Smith to Montrae Layhew, plus added penalty yards against McKenzie, set the Mustangs up with first-and-goal at the 10. K. Smith gained three, then two, then was stopped for no gain. On fourth-and-goal at the 5, Rebel Bryson Smith wrapped up K. Smith and forced a fumble, recovered by McKenzie.

Taking over at the 4, Reeder ran twice for nine yards to give the Rebels breathing room from their own goal line. Ross pressed forward for first-down yardage, but escaped a tackle and reversed his course, cutting a path down the sideline for 22 yards. Reeder and Ross each made short gains, and a penalty gave the Rebels a first down at midfield as the third quarter ended. The duo continued to pound the ground and grind the clock, finally turning the ball over on downs at the Mustang 12 with two minutes remaining in the game.

Huntingdon earned a first down on a good run by Noah Webb, but the next play resulted in an interception by Blanton.

With a minute left, Ross took a knee twice to seal the 16-6 win.