Rebels Escape Richland with Last-Second Field Goal, Will Host Black Friday Semifinal

LYNNVILLE (November 21) — For the fifth consecutive year, McKenzie High School has advanced to the TSSAA Class 1A Football State Semifinals after a thrilling, 24-21 road win over Richland in Friday's quarterfinal round.

The Rebels will host Fayetteville on Black Friday with a state championship berth on the line. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

Momentum was hard to come by Friday night as McKenzie and Richland went back-and-forth, but the Rebels ended up with the ball at the end of a tie game. Aiden Mason kicked a 32-yard field goal as time expired to seal the win.

Richland won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff.

A strong return gave the Raiders a short field, and they capitalized with a seven-play, 35-yard drive to take a 7-0 lead.

Rebel fans would be left holding their breath as McKenzie went three-and-out on their first possession, but a great punt by Cole Brown pinned the Raiders deep.

The Rebel defense returned the favor and forced a three-and-out. Richland's punt was downed at midfield.

McKenzie kept it on the ground as Brown, Timmy Arline and Jayden Callis kept the Raiders guessing on a ten-play drive capped by a one-yard touchdown by Brown on the second play of the second frame. Aiden Mason kicked the point-after, and the Rebels tied it at 7-7.

Richland earned one first down but couldn't get across midfield and turned the ball over on downs at their 45.

The teams swapped penalties to start the drive, then Cole Brown threw to Avery Brown for a 35-yard touchdown. Avery made the catch falling into the end zone under double-coverage. Mason kicked, and McKenzie led 14-7 with seven minutes remaining in the first half.

The Raiders answered with a nine-play, 64-yard drive to tie it at 14-14 just under three minutes before intermission.

The Rebels earned one first down, but then faced fourth down and took a knee to end the half.

McKenzie received the second-half kickoff with a chance to regain the lead, but the drive stalled after one first down and Brown punted.

Richland earned a pair of first downs and got across midfield, but a penalty doomed the drive to a punt.

Brown and Callis took turns carrying the ball on a seven-play, 58-yard drive, capped by a five-yard run by Brown. Mason kicked the PAT, and the Rebels regained the lead, 21-14, with a minute left in the third quarter.

The Raiders threatened again, starting with a solid return and earning three first downs to get to the Rebel 16. Big stops by Cole Brown, Aiden Callis and Aiden Legens (with a third-down sack) made it fourth down, and Avery Brown defended a pass attempt for the turnover.

McKenzie went three-and-out, but another strong punt by C. Brown started Richland at their 27.

The Raiders quickly faced fourth down, but converted on a quarterback scramble. Six plays later, they found the end zone and tied it with a PAT, 21-21 with just over two minutes remaining in regulation.

Four quick first downs, including a gutsy, 41-yard scramble by C. Brown, got the Rebels to the 16, but the next two plays yielded no yards. McKenzie used their third down to move the ball over to give Mason a straight kick. On fourth down as time expired, the senior soccer transplant nailed it from 32 yards to give his team the victory.

The Rebels earned 322 yards of total offense, 147 passing and 175 rushing. Richland had 227 total yards, 42 in the air and 185 on the ground.

Rebel quarterback Cole Brown was 12 of 17 passing for 147 yards and one touchdown. He had 13 carries for 116 yards and two touchdowns.

Jayden Callis rushed six times for 39 yards. Timmy Arline had five carries for 20 yards.

Avery Brown had five receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown. Jacobi Melton had two catches for 24 yards. Arline caught two passes for 16 yards. J. Callis had one reception for 13 yards, and Lelan Gordon caught two passes for nine yards.

Cole Brown led the defense with nine solo tackles and five assists, including one for a loss. Maddox Shiell had six solo and one assist. Mason Batten had five solo and five assists.

Cooper Davidson had four solo tackles and four assists. Aiden Legens had four solo and three assists with a sack. Kason Brown had four solo and four assists with one for a loss.

Aiden Callis had three solo and two assists. Matteo Tabada and Cayden Gordon each had two solo and three assists.