Rebels Struggle Against Union City in Opener

McKENZIE (August 6) — McKenzie Middle School hosted Union City Thursday to open the football season. The Rebels struggled on both sides of the ball in the first half as the Golden Tornadoes opened up a big lead. McKenzie made some adjustments and looked better down the stretch, avoiding the shutout with a late touchdown, but Union City claimed a 44-7 win.

With the new season came a new tradition for MMS football. For each home game, eighth grade players will choose an honorary teacher captain from the middle or elementary school to participate in the pregame coin toss. The teacher chosen for the first game was seventh grade ELA teacher Braxton Hobson.

McKenzie won the coin toss and chose to receive the opening kickoff.

The Rebels began their first drive at their 26. Navadius Owens started the drive with back-to-back carries to move the chains, but it was quickly third-and-nine. A high snap was recovered by Union City at the McKenzie 23.

The Tornadoes scored on three plays and added a two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead halfway through the first frame.

McKenzie went three-and-out on their second possession, but Rebel Makhyn Gilbert had a solid punt to put Union City at their own 34.

On the first snap, Gilbert ran down a Tornado and made the tackle to prevent a touchdown, but the 50-yard gain set up Union City for a 16-yard score on the next play. Reed Gaskins led a host of Rebels in stopping the two-point try, and the Tornadoes led 14-0 late in the first quarter.

The Rebels began the ensuing drive at their 42, and Owens moved the chains as the frame ended. On the first play of the second quarter, quarterback Kenden Coleman's pass was intercepted.

The Tornado quarterback took the first snap 70 yards to the end zone, but a holding penalty negated the score. Three plays later, Union City scored on a 61-yard run. A completed pass added two points, and the Tornadoes led 22-0.

Union City pulled off a successful onside kick to steal a possession from McKenzie and scored on two plays. Another two-point conversion made the score 30-0.

Owens found space for an excellent return on the ensuing kickoff, finally stopped at the Tornado 23. Coleman kept for 11 yards and a first down, then Owens ran for four. Coleman lost two yards on a keeper, then completed a pass to Gilbert for six. On fourth-and-two at the 4, Owens was stopped just short of the first-down marker. With two minutes remaining in the half, Union City took over at their own 3.

The Rebel defense held strong to force a fourth down, but Union City completed an 11-yard pass to move the chains. Two plays later, another touchdown was negated by a penalty, but the next play resulted in a Tornado score. The Rebels stopped the two-point try, and the score was 36-0 with five seconds left in the half.

McKenzie received the kick as time expired.

Union City received the second-half kickoff but committed back-to-back penalties to start the drive. Owens made a tackle for a five-yard loss to make it second-and-20 at the Tornado 25, but Union City scored again on a 75-yard run. The two-point conversion was good, and the Tornadoes led 44-0 halfway through the third quarter.

The Rebels went three-and-out on their first drive of the second half.

Union City began their drive with a false start, then Gaskins made three straight tackles to force a fourth down as the quarter ended. Rebels Mason Davidson and Colin Yeley made the stop for the turnover on downs on the first snap of the final frame.

Gilbert had two carries to bring up third-and-short, then Owens moved the chains on back-to-back plays. Quarterback Cord Wall scrambled to turn a high snap into a short gain, then Owens earned two more first downs. Two more gains by Owens were followed by a fumble to make it fourth-down, but Owens took it ten yards to get the Rebels on the board with under a minute to play. Payton Cox kicked the PAT, and Union City led 44-7.

Time expired just after the ensuing kick.

The Rebels have a bye week, then travel to Lexington on Tuesday, August 18. Kickoff is 6:30 p.m.