Rebels Fall to Minutemen

LEXINGTON (August 18) — The McKenzie Middle School Rebels traveled Tuesday to face Lexington Middle School football at Caywood Elementary. The host Minutemen stopped a deep Rebel drive to start the game, then took control on both sides of the ball en route to a 36-0 win.

McKenzie received the opening kick and started at their own 38. Quarterback Kenden Coleman threw to Navadius Owens for seven yards, then lost two yards on a keeper. A short pass to Owens brought up fourth-and-two, but Owens found a gap for 43 yards to keep the drive alive. He ran again for no gain, then Coleman threw to Colin Yeley for five yards. A Lexington penalty made it third-and-one at the 3, but Owens was stopped for a loss. Coleman threw incomplete on fourth down, and the Minutemen took over at their 8.

Lexington scored on their first snap with a 92-yard run. The two-point conversion was successful, and the Minutemen led 8-0 with just under three minutes to play in the first frame.

The Rebels went three-and-out on their second possession. Coleman's punt was downed at the McKenzie 46.

The Minutemen earned one first down, then scored on a 32-yard run. An incomplete pass on the two-point try made it 14-0 Lexington with under two minutes remaining in the opening quarter.

McKenzie went three-and-out again with three incomplete passes. Coleman punted, and a long return by Lexington was negated by a block-in-the-back penalty.

The Minutemen earned one first down, but the drive stalled around midfield as the quarter ended. Lexington turned the ball over on downs on the first play of the second frame.

The Rebels earned a first down on another good Owens run, but turned the ball over on downs four plays later at the Lexington 39.

The Minutemen struck again with a seven-play scoring drive, including a fourth-down conversion. Rebel Jonah Henson batted down a pass on the two-point try, and Lexington led 20-0 with a minute left in the half.

Three plays into McKenzie's next drive, Coleman's pass was intercepted. Reed Gaskins and the QB himself made the stop to prevent a Minutemen touchdown.

Taking over at the Rebel 27 with two seconds on the clock. Lexington completed a pass, but the receiver was stopped by a host of Rebels to end the half.

The Minutemen received the second-half kick and scored on their first snap with a long carry. The two-point conversion was good, and Lexington led 28-0.

Rebel Makhyn Gilbert ran for a first down to get McKenzie into Minutemen territory, but three plays later, Lexington made another interception.

The first Minutemen play of the possession was a 59-yard touchdown pass. A successful two-point conversion gave Lexington a 36-0 lead halfway through the third quarter.

Owens made a good return to the Minutemen 44, but McKenzie turned the ball over on downs on four plays.

Lexington suffered some miscues on the ensuing drive and turned the ball over on downs as the fourth quarter began.

Owens earned the Rebels a first down, but a fumble on the next snap was scooped up by a Minutemen defender with a wide open path to the end zone. Owens outran the player to make a touchdown-saving tackle at the 17.

Gaskins made a stop for a loss, then a touchdown run was negated by a holding penalty.  A false start moved Lexington back even more, and a host of Rebels made a second-down stop. On third-and-long, the Minutemen found space to the outside, but Gilbert forced the runner out of bounds at the 7. On first-and-goal, a fumble was recovered by Gaskins as time expired.

The Rebels return home to face Henderson North on Thursday, August 27. Kickoff is 6:30 p.m.