|
|
The largest crowd ever to watch a football game in
McKenzie had nearly perfect weather conditions to watch a
game that decided who would make it to the state
championship game in Murfreesboro this Friday night. The
game between the 13-0 Rebels and the 12-1 Chargers had the
makings of a championship contest and fans were anxious
for the 7:00 p.m. kickoff. Solid defense by both squads
and untimely turnovers by the Rebels tilted the score in
favor of the visiting Chargers.
McKenzie team captains Shiron Perkins, Nathan Young, David
Duncan and Brannon Milton saw Martin win the toss and
defer until the second half. The opening kick made its way
deep into the end zone. McKenzie took over at its own
20-yard line on the touchback.
On first down, quarterback Taylor Holland found running
room for a single yard. On second down, Holland spotted
Chris Wall across the middle for a fifteen yard first down
completion. Josh Stenberg had the next carry for four
yards, but on second down, Holland was rushed and thrown
for an eight-yard loss by a host of Chargers. A third down
reverse by David Duncan, who took the pitch and sped down
the visitor's sideline for 24 yards, produced a first
down. However the Rebel drive fizzled out as Holland was
stopped for no gain on first down, was held to a five-yard
run on second down and then sacked for a six-yard loss on
third down. Mitchell Hall punted 32-yards for the Rebels.
Martin's first possession was short-lived. All State
running back Rafael Hill ran for four yards on first down.
Gant Rooks was stopped for no gain by Eric Gilbert,
Brannon Milton and Justin Adkisson. A third down pass was
defended by cornerback Howard Nolen, who kept Jake Hicks
from gaining possession of the football. Charger punter P.
R. Wilson booted a 46-yard punt.
McKenzie's second offensive possession began at its own
14-yard line. Holland found running room behind Stevia
Harris and Ricky Mathis for nine yards. Milton picked up a
first down on a two-yard run. Shiron Perkins got the call
and picked up a yard before the ball was fumbled with
Milton on the recovery. On second down, Holland attempted
a pass to Duncan that was incomplete. A third down pass,
intended for Duncan was intercepted by the Chargers Andrew
Jennings, who returned the ball to the Rebel 20-yard line.
The hard running Hill hit the middle of the Rebel defense
and went almost untouched for the first score of the game
at the 2:53 mark of the first quarter. C. W. West kicked
the PAT high, long and good.
First Quarter
McKenzie 0-Martin Westview 7
McKenzie again saw the kickoff go into the end zone and
took over at their own 20-yard line. Milton ran behind
Brian Winston and Bruce Anderson for three yards. Milton
then gained a yard on second down. On third down, Milton
was held to only three yards. Needing three yards for a
first down and deep in their own territory, the Rebels
Hall entered to punt the ball only 19 yards.
With great field position at the Rebel 46-yard line, the
visiting Chargers began their second scoring assault.
Rooks ran a misdirection play for six yards. Hill found
good running room for 12 yards behind the block of Rooks
for a first down. A penalty against McKenzie for a face
mask along with a five-yard gain by Rooks produced another
first down at the Rebel 14-yard line. The Rebels defense
was having difficulty in slowing Hill, who had a five yard
first down run. Rooks was slammed down for no gain by
Chris Stephens, Nathan Young and Stenberg. But on third
down, the quickness of Hill helped to produce a nine-yard
touchdown run as he entered the end zone with little
opposition. With 9:23 remaining in the first half, West
booted the PAT good.
Second Quarter
McKenzie 0-Martin Westview 14
McKenzie took over on its next possession at the 27-yard
line where Hall received the kick. A costly Rebel fumble
turned the football over as a handoff from Holland to
Stenberg was fumbled (with senior Adam Wright recovering),
and Martin already leading 14-0 took over at the Rebel
28-yard line. Coach Coady elected to strike fast. A Wilson
to Jake Hicks pass caught the Rebel defensive unit out of
position. Hicks then outdistanced the Rebel cornerback to
complete the 28-yard score. With 9:18 remaining before
intermission, West again split the uprights with a kick
that went deep into the parking lot.
Second Quarter
McKenzie 0-Martin Westview 21
After swapping possessions several times, the Rebels
managed to regain possession for four plays, leaving 13.7
seconds on the clock with Demerick Diggs sacking Wilson
and Hill being stopped by Young and Gilbert to end the
first half.
At the half, McKenzie had managed only 40 rushing yards on
18 carries. Martin had 106 yards on 17 carries. Marthew
had thrown for 41 yards while McKenzie had a single
completion for 15 yards.
As the second half began, the Rebels returned to
demonstrate the character that made them one of only four
Class AA teams remaining in the playoffs. McKenzie held
off All State, Mr. Football nominee Hill to only eight
total yards in the final two quarters. They also gained
more yards on the ground and came up with two more first
downs. The Big Red defense held Martin to only 24 second
half yards in the air.
The Rebels began the second half by kicking the ball to
Hill, who was quickly stopped by Matt Merrick at the
Charger 31-yard line. Although the Chargers gained a first
down, they were then held to only eight more yards on good
defensive action by Stenberg, Duncan, Young, Milton,
Jonathan Adkisson, and Justin Adkisson. On fourth and two,
Hill was pushed back by Nolen, Young, Jonathan Adkisson,
Justin Adkisson and Milton as the Rebels took over in good
field position at the Rebel 47-yard line. However, on
first down, Holland's pass was intercepted by Jon Vallee
at the Charger 16-yard line.
The Big Red defense stepped up and stopped the Chargers in
three plays, including Diggs sacking Wilson for a
four-yard loss, a seven yard pass to Justin Harrell for
seven yards (with the stop by Stenberg) and a small gain
by Rooks. Although good defensive action again held the
Chargers, who gained only seven total yards on the
possession, on the punt, the ball was fumbled and
recovered by Westview's Zac Scott. After Duncan failed to
gain the punted ball, the Chargers took over near
midfield.
The Rebel defense again rose to the occasion. On first
down, Hill was hit by linebacker Young after a gain of
only one yard. Rooks was slammed by Milton for a two-yard
loss on second down. Ultimately, the Rebels took over on
downs at their own 44-yard line with 4:25 remaining in the
third quarter.
The Rebels managed to take significant time off the clock
as they picked up a couple of first downs and got inside
the Charger 30-yard line. But ultimately, the Chargers
took over on downs at their own 34 after a holding penalty
halted the Rebels drive.
The Chargers were again held to only four downs and punted
the ball as the final quarter's action began. The Rebels
swapped possessions again with the Chargers and then took
the punt after holding a second time. However, on the
reception by Duncan, the Rebels were assessed a clipping
penalty and possession began at their own nine-yard line.
With 3:53 remaining in the game, Holland threw a screen
pass and it was intercepted by Jason Davis, who then
stepped quickly into the end zone from three-yards out.
With only 3:43 remaining in the game, the PAT was good.
Fourth Quarter
McKenzie 0-Martin Westview 28
With just over three minutes remaining in this semi-final
match, McKenzie started from its own 20-yard line. Holland
was hit for no gain on first down. On second down, a pass
to Duncan was off the mark and incomplete. On third down,
a Hall to Wall pass was incomplete. The Rebels elected to
remain on offense for the final play and a pass to Hall
was just off his fingertips and incomplete.
With just under two minutes remaining, Martin took over at
the Rebel 20-yard line. Rooks reeled off 18 big yards on
first down. Hill was stopped after a gain of one by Justin
Adkisson, Stenberg and Young. Instead of downing the
football and running out the clock, the Westview coaching
staff elected to go for a score on third down. Hill edged
into the end zone with 1:15 remaining. The PAT was again
good.
Fourth Quarter
McKenzie 0-Martin Westview 35
The game ended with Milton picking up 13 yards. Nolen also
picked up a 13-yard first down. The final play was a
Milton run for a yard.
In a game, much closer than the score, the 2001 Rebels
finished with a disappointing 35-0 setback. But the 2001
Rebels will certainly allow the one loss to fade in their
memories and remember instead the 13 big wins, a Region
6-AA championship, an undefeated regular season and
gaining the semi-final round of the state playoffs.
The Rebels 17 seniors have established many records in
McKenzie football history. This group of red and gray
Rebels have been able to win 38 games in their career, a
McKenzie record. Rebel fans will long remember the hard
work, determination, and pride that this group has brought
to McKenzie. Playing in their last game in the Rebel red
jersey were Jonathan Gaskins (#78), Jonathan Adkisson
(#51), Howard Nolen (#45), David Duncan (#1), Nathan Young
(#6), Justin Adkisson (#61), Mitchell Hall (#11), Stevia
Harris (#73), Taylor Holland (#10), Bruce Anderson (#71),
Eric Gilbert (#64), Chris Wall (#34), Josh Stenberg (#2),
Jeremy Sydnor (#67), Shiron Perkins (#35), Brannon Milton
(#35) and Carone Tharpe (#27).
|
Game Statistics |
| |
Rebels |
Mustangs |
|
First Downs |
8 |
7 |
|
Yards Rushed |
34 carries/105 yds |
35 carries/155 yds |
|
Yards Passed |
1/15/15yds |
6/13/65 yds |
|
Total Yards |
120 |
220 |
|
Punts |
5/31.0 avg |
5/36.8 avg |
|
Penalties |
6/45 yds. |
4/50 yds. |
|
Fumbles |
3, lost 2 |
0 |
|
Score by Quarter |
|
Rebels |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Lewis County |
7 |
14 |
0 |
14 |
| |
|
|
|
|
McKenzie-Martin Series Record
since 1940:
McKenzie 18 wins, 22 losses, 1
tie
Coach Wade Comer's Record
24 wins/3 losses
McKenzie's overall record,
1940-present:
07 wins, 325 losses, 14 ties
Individual Games Statistics:
Game and Season (Season in Parenthesis)
INDIVIDUAL PASSING:
Taylor
Holland: 46 of 120 for 865 yards, 9 TD's, 15 interceptions
for year
REBEL RUSHING:
Taylor Holland: 11 carries, 5
yards (101 carries, 1,008 yards, 13 TD's)
Shiron Perkins: 6 carries, 17 yards (107 carries, 918
yards, 5 TD's)
Josh Stenberg: 3 carries, 8 yards (119 carries, 857 yards,
18 TD's)
Brannon Milton: 8 carries, 32 yards (124 carries, 821
yards, 9 TD's)
David Duncan: 3 carries, 25 yards (20 carries, 246 yards,
6 TD's)
Brad Campbell: (19 carries, 164 yards, 2 TD's)
Howard Nolen: 3 carries, 18 yards (31 carries, 142 yards,
2 TD's)
Matt Merrick (14 carries, 67 yards, 2 TD's)
Clint Woodard (4 carries, 24 yards)
John Howell (4 carries, 21 yards)
Cody Cook (11 carries, 20 yards)
Matt Jones (3 carries, 14 yards)
Mitchell Hall (3 carries, 2 yards)
REBEL RECEIVING:
Mitchell Hall (14 receptions, 307 yards, 2 TD's)
David Duncan (17 receptions, 249 yards, 3 TD's)
Chris Wall: 1 reception, 15 yards (4 receptions, 120
yards, 3 TD's)
Jay Taylor (4 receptions, 78 yards, 1 TD)
Carone Tharpe (4 receptions, 65 yards)
Josh Stenberg (1 reception, 27 yards)
Shiron Perkins (2 receptions, 1 yards)
|
|
|
|
| |
By Pat Cole
pcole@mckenziebanner.com |
| |
 Hollow Rock-Bruceton senior Adrian Jamison, a standout for
four years of football action at Central High School, was
named the Class A Mr. Football Back of the Year during the
17th Annual Awards Presentation Monday, November 26 at
Opryland Hotel in Nashville.
The awards ceremony included the 42 nominees in Classes A-AAAAA
of both Division I and II schools, administrators,
coaches, parents, family members and friends. Over 500
attended this year's ceremony.Jamison was a three-year nominee for this prestigious
award and certainly had the statistics to win, having
broken 17 Hollow Rock-Bruceton records which included the
most all-purpose yards for a career (over 9,000 yards) and
the most rushing yards for a career, 7,710 total yards.
Jamison was a four-year starter for the Tigers at
tailback, returned both opening kickoffs (averaging 38.8
yards per return in 1999) and punts (980 total yards) and
played defensively as well. Throughout his career, he was
deemed so deadly in his ability to return kickoffs and
punts for significant yardage as well as touchdowns that
his opponents did their best to kick it away from him.
Adrian's longest run was against TCA in 2000 when he ran
90 yards, his longest interception return was 93 yards in
the same game. He had 103 career rushing touchdowns, had
10 games in his career with over 200 yards and rushed for
283 against TCA in 2001. He led the Tigers in single
season all-purpose touchdowns scored with 38 in 2000, with
28 of those rushing TD's. Jamison scored 662 total points
throughout his four years at Central with 110 all-purpose
touchdowns.
Jamison is the second Hollow Rock-Bruceton senior to earn
Back of the Year Honors. Former standout Joe Longmire
received the award in 1995 and was also a runner-up in
1994. James Hartzfield, a 1996 senior at Hollow
Rock-Bruceton, was the only Tiger to receive the Lineman
of the Year honor on his first nomination. Also nominated
for Back of the Year honors was Nelson Santiago in 1988.
He lost to Todd Logan of Moore County High School.
Jamison's competition this year were J. P. Shelly of
Ezell-Hardin Christian Academy and Jonathan Ward of
Collinwood High School, both quarterbacks for their
respective squads.
Also nominated from West Tennessee were Justin Harrell
(lineman) and Rafeal Hill (back) of Martin Westview High
School in Class AA; Lareko Boykin (back) of Covington High
School in Class AAA; Demetrius Bray (lineman) of Jackson
North Side High School inClass AAAA and several from
Memphis schools in Classes 3A, 4A and 5A. Harrell won the
Class AA Lineman of the Year Award and he and Hill will be
playing in the Blue Cross Bowl this Friday night against
Goodpasture. Game time will be at 7:00 p.m. |
|
