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By Bobby Young A cold, rainy, windy and otherwise
miserable Friday night for high school football head
the Region 7-AAA Dyer County Choctaws and the Region
6-AA McKenzie Rebels doing battle.
After a total of nine turnovers between the two
teams, the Rebels reached down deep and blocked a
crucial punt and the ball was scooped up and returned
to the end zone for a go-ahead touchdown.
Captains for McKenzie were seniors Brannon Milton,
Howard Nolen, Justin Adkisson and Jonathan Adkisson.
The white and orange Choctaws won the toss and kicked
to the Rebels. McKenzie began the evening from its own
31-yard line. The sparse crowd came to their feet on
first down when Taylor Holland rolled between Ricky
Mathis and Bruce Anderson and rambled into the Choctaw
secondary. Holland appeared to be headed into the end
zone but a speedy Keith Mahone tackled the McKenzie
quarterback after a 51-yard gain. From the
sixteen-yard line, Shiron Perkins, the Rebels
tailback, used his speed and quickness to race into
the end zone for the first score of the night. With
10:56 remaining in the first quarter, Josh Stenberg
kicked the PAT to give the Rebels the lead.
First Quarter
McKenzie 7-Dyer County 0
McKenzie's kick was very short, allowing Dyer
County to take over from its own 49-yard line. On
first down, Shoulders tired the airways
unsuccessfully. On second down, Greg Litton blasted
the middle for 18 yards. Shoulders ran for a big 15
yard first down, but the drive slowed as McKenzie's
defense buckled down and stopped Brian Fish after a
three-yard gain. Fish was again stopped after gaining
four. In the drive, Milton blasted in and slammed the
Dyer County quarterback to the ground for a 10-yard
loss. On fourth down and ten, Shoulders threw an
incomplete pass to Fish.
McKenzie took over at its own 19-yard line. David
Duncan was popped for no gain on first down. Stenberg
stomped his way for seven yards and again for four
yards and the first down. But the drive stalled on a
third down pass to Mitchell Hall. Hall had the
reception in his hands but the wet football squirted
free.
Dyer County, for the second straight possession
took over near midfield. Mahone was stopped after
gaining only a yard. The usually tough Rebel defense,
always strong on the outside, could not keep Mahone
from getting to the corner. Mahone was able to tight
rope the sideline past the entire Rebel defense for a
53-yard touchdown. With 1:41 remaining in the first
quarter Alkashawi kicked the PAT good.
First Quarter
McKenzie 7-Dyer County 7
The kickoff after the touchdown backed McKenzie up
to its own 30 yard line. Perkins took the Holland
pitch and dodged and darted his way some twenty-four
yards. Stenberg found running room behind Stevia
Harris and Jeremy Sydnor for a big sixteen yard first
down. Fullback Milton crunched the middle for a
seven-yard gain. Stenberg then lowered his head and
picked up another first down after a 14 yard gain.
With the ball at the Dyer County 10 yard line, Duncan
took the handoff and skipped some seven yards.
Stenberg again took the ball and rammed his way into
the end zone for the score with no time left in the
first period. Stenberg also added another PAT to his
point total for the night to give the Rebels the lead
again.
First Quarter
McKenzie 14-Dyer County 7
Dyer County could not hold on to the ensuing
kickoff and the Rebels recovered at the Choctaw
39-yard line. On first down, Holland threw to Carone
Tharpe. The pass was off the mark and incomplete. The
rain and wind made the passing game difficult for both
squads. Holland was hit and thrown for a five-yard
loss on second down. A third down pass to Duncan was
also off the mark and intercepted by the Choctaws.
Dyer County took over at their own 34-yard line.
But the visitors could not muster any offense.
Shoulders was hit for a two-yard loss by Jonathan Adkisson. Shoulders fired a third down pass to Dee
Ladel. The pass was off the mark and incomplete.
Late in the quarter, McKenzie looked as if they
would build a big halftime lead. The Rebels took over
at midfield. Two runs by Stenberg produced 13 yards.
Perkins ran two times for eleven yards. A wet football
slipped away from Holland on first down and was
recovered by Dyer County at their own 31-yard line.
On first down Mahone was hit for a five-yard loss
by Hall. Shoulders (West Tennessee's leading passer),
had a very unimpressive night. He had only two pass
completions for the night. But unfortunately for the
Big Red, a pass to Fish was complete for a 53-yard
gain. Duncan ran Fish down at the Rebel 22-yard line.
Shoulders again found Mahone for a 12-yard gain down
to the three-yard line. Shoulders pushed his way off
tackle for a three-yard touchdown. With only 58
seconds before half, Alkashawi kicked the PAT good to
tie the game.
Second Quarter
McKenzie 14-Dyer County 14
To begin the second half, McKenzie again kicked
very short and gave a potent Choctaw offense a start
at their own 45 yard line. McKenzie was able to hold
Dyer County in check, but punting from midfield helped
the ball roll down to the Rebel one-yard line. With
the ball ninety-nine yards away from a score, Milton
got the call on first down. He was stopped for no
gain. The wet football proved to be disastrous for
McKenzie on second down. Stenberg fumbled back to an
eager bunch of Choctaws at the three-yard line. Greg
Litton got the call on first down for a three-yard
gain inside the one-yard line. It appeared Shoulders
was held short of the line of scrimmage, but it was
ruled that he crossed the goal line. With 8:19
remaining in the third quarter, Alkashawi kicked the
PAT good.
Third Quarter
McKenzie 14-Dyer County 21
With just over five minutes remaining in the third
quarter, McKenzie began a drive from its own
twenty-yard line. On first down, a gaping hole opened
up and fullback Milton stepped in. Milton found his
way into the secondary. The Rebel fullback churned his
way for a game-high fifty-five yard first down. Two
plays later, Perkins ran for six yards down to the
Dyer County 16-yard line. Milton managed three yards
and a first down. Holland faked to Milton and rode his
hip for a twelve-yard Rebel touchdown. With 1:19
remaining in the quarter, the Rebels elected to try a
two-point conversion. Perkins was stuffed a yard short
of the goal line.
Third Quarter
McKenzie 20-Dyer County 21
With a strong, steady rain falling at Rebel Field,
an exciting fourth quarter got underway. McKenzie
began its first drive from its own 20-yard line. On
first down, a pitch to Perkins was successful. Perkins
hit the sideline enroute to a thirty-yard pickup. But
the football was knocked loose and recovered by Dyer
County.
The Rebels defense worked extra hard and shut down
the visitors without a score. With nearly four minutes
remaining in the game, Dyer County was punting from
its own thirty-five yard line. The fourth down punt
was rushed by the Rebels Chris Stephens, who slapped
the football high into the air. An alert nose guard,
Milton, caught the ball and raced goal ward. Milton's
thirty-yard touchdown put the Rebels ahead with only
3:15 remaining in the game. Holland ran the two-point
conversion, but was stopped after little gain.
Fourth Quarter
McKenzie 26-Dyer County 21
After a questionable call by the officials, against
the Rebels, on a fourth down punt, it seemed like the
visitors might score a win. But big stops by Eric
Gilbert and Jonathan Adkisson stopped the drive.
Sloppy weather and a somewhat sloppily played game
came to an end with the Red intercepting an Orange
pass. McKenzie proved they could come from behind and
down a quality opponent. For the third straight year,
the MHS Rebels are getting ready for game eight with
an 7-0 record.
This Friday night, the Chester County Eagles, a Region
6-AA opponent will be on everyone's mind. Coach Ricky Cotllett's Eagles are currently at three wins and four
losses. The Eagles have wins over Perry county 15-14,
Adamsville, 15-14 and Gibson County 8-6.
The kickoff at Chester County will be at 7:30 p.m.
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