Rebels Win Big at Central

BRUCETON (October 10) —- The Hollow Rock-Bruceton Central Tiger hosted McKenzie Friday for a region football contest. The Rebels jumped out to an early lead and cruised to a 49-6 win.

McKenzie won the coin toss and deferred possession.

Central began the first drive at their 19 and found early success in the ground game, including a 43-yard run by Korbin Brown. The Rebel defense locked down in the red zone, forcing a turnover on downs at the 4.

McKenzie went with a mix of passes and runs on their first possession, earning five first downs in a ten-play, 96-yard scoring drive. Cole Brown threw to Avery Brown to get it to the 1, then punched it in on a keeper. The PAT was no good, and the Rebels led 6-0 with 2:28 to play in the opening frame.

A quick three-and-out by Central returned the ball to McKenzie late in the quarter. The punt was downed at the Rebel 44.

Moving into the second quarter, McKenzie earned a pair of first downs before Jayden Callis ran for a 21-yard touchdown. Lelan Gordon ran for two points, and the Rebels led 14-0 two minutes into the quarter.

Brady Roberts made a 32-yard kickoff return, but the Tigers went three-and-out. A short punt gave McKenzie good field position at the Central 44.

The Rebels scored on six plays, capped by a 17-yard pass from C. Brown to Kason Brown. Aiden Mason kicked the PAT, and McKenzie led 21-0 halfway through the second frame.

The Tigers earned a first down but were pushed back and soon faced fourth-and-long. Rebel Aiden Legens sacked quarterback Braxton Howard for a big loss, and McKenzie took over at the 22.

C. Brown threw incomplete, then Callis ran for eight. C. Brown kept for a 14-yard touchdown, and Mason’s kick gave the Rebels a 28-0 lead with under three minutes remaining in the half.

It appeared Central would go three-and-out again, but on fourth down, Howard threw to Carter Lowe for a 54-yard touchdown. The two-point try was stopped, and McKenzie led 28-6 with a minute and a half left in the second quarter.

The Rebels moved the ball quickly on short passes until C. Brown hit Callis for 41 yards, then kept for a six-yard touchdown. The PAT failed, and McKenzie led 34-6 with 13 seconds left in the half.

The Tigers received the kickoff, but didn’t run a play before time expired.

McKenzie received the second-half kick and started at their own 43. Callis ran for 37, then C. Brown threw to Jacobi Melton for nine. C. Brown kept for another nine down to the 2, but the next play resulted in a fumble. The ball was knocked backward multiple times before Central finally made the recovery at the Tiger 37.

Four plays later, the Tigers turned the ball over on downs.

Callis carried three straight times, the latter a four-yard touchdown. C. Brown threw to A. Brown for two points, and the Rebels led 42-6 halfway through the third quarter.

Central earned a pair of first downs and pushed into Rebel territory, but a big loss on a third-down tackle by Rebel Matteo Tabada forced a punt. A. Brown made a long return down the sideline to the Central 48.

C. Brown threw to K. Brown for 31 yards, followed by a Callis run for nine. Melton then punched it in from the 8. Mason kicked, and McKenzie led 49-6 in the final seconds of the third.

The Tigers sustained a long drive, earning four first downs before turning the ball over on downs at the Rebel 24.

McKenzie took over, and C. Brown took a knee to run out the clock.

Rebel quarterback Cole Brown was 19 of 23 passing for 316 yards and three touchdowns. He also had six carries for 37 yards and three touchdowns.

Jayden Callis rushed ten times for 121 yards with a touchdown.

Avery Brown caught four passes for 92 yards. Callis had two receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown. Kason Brown caught two passes for 49 yards and a touchdown. Jacobi Melton had seven receptions for 47 yards with one touchdown. Cooper Davidson had two catches for 38 yards, and Lelan Gordon had two for 29 yards.

Aiden Legens led the McKenzie defense with six solo tackles and five assists, with three for a loss and two sacks. Matteo Tabada had six solo and one assist, including one for a loss. Lelan Gordon had six solo and two assists.

Maddox Shiell had four solo tackles and two assists with two for a loss and one sack. Dawson Reeder had four solo and three assists. Jackson Cantrell had four solo and one assist.

Central quarterback Braxton Howard was three of 12 passing for 63 yards and a touchdown.

Korbin Brown had five carries for 49 yards, and Brady Roberts rushed five times for 22 yards.

Carter Lowe had one catch for a 64-yard touchdown.

Both McKenzie and Central have a bye week, then host region games on October 24, the Rebels against Wayne County and the Tigers against McEwen. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.