2001 Region 6-AA Champions... Rebels Remain Undefeated With 13-6 Victory Over Huntingdon

Since the classification changes took place in the early 1970's, the Rebels have had good success in Class A football. In 1980, 1985 and 1986, they were defeated in the second round while falling in first round action in 1981 and 1989. But the Rebels have seen the Class AA regional titles elude them throughout their years in that classification.

This past Friday night, the Rebels defied the odds and gained their first Region 6-AA title. They were 5-0 at Rebel Field and are on course to break an all-time point scoring record. Along the way, they downed their county rival in one of the all-time best games ever at Rebel Field.

On a seasonably cook Friday night, an over-capacity crowd stood all around Rebel Field as the team captains met at mid-field.

Huntingdon won the toss and elected to defer its selection until the second half. The ball was kicked deep and the Rebels started their first possession of the ball game from their 18-yard line. Shiron Perkins ran for three yards on first down. Josh Stenberg hit the middle, behind Ricky Mathis and Bruce Anderson for two yards. A third down pass to Mitchell Hall was incomplete. Hall entered and punted for thirty yards on fourth down.

Huntingdon began their first possession in excellent field position at their own 47-yard line. Weathers got the call on first down for a two-yard loss, as a host of red-clad Rebels converged. Terrance Bell got the call on second down for a two-yard gain. Weathers regained the ball on third down and picked up three yards. Brian Nellett punted on fourth and seven.

McKenzie took over at its own 28-yard line. Brannon Milton picked up nine yards on first down. Milton was stopped for no gain on second down. However on third down, a charging offensive line blew open a big hole that let Stenberg blast out an eight-yard first down run. A misdirection handoff to David Duncan produced another big fifteen yard first down. Taylor Holland fumbled on first down but was able to recover. On second down, Milton ran for three yards. A third down pass across the middle to an open Hall produced a big first down completion. Hall was then hit by a couple of defensive backs, but the senior pulled loose and stumbled up field for the 28-yard completion. With the ball at the Huntingdon ten-yard line, Holland followed behind the block of Jeremy Sydnor for an impressive nine-yard jaunt. With the ball at the one-yard line, Stenberg got the call and could not be stopped. The Rebel running back lowered his head and crunched his way three yards deep into the end zone. With 4:10 remaining in the first quarter, McKenzie elected to kick the PAT. Stenberg's kick was high and through the uprights.

First Quarter
McKenzie 7-Huntingdon 0
Huntingdon was unable to move the ball and the Rebels regained offensive possession.

McKenzie's next possession was also successful. The Rebel offensive line out-muscled the guests. McKenzie began from their own 33-yard line. Perkins took the pitch and twisted and turned up field for nine-yards. Melton got the call for a three-yard first down. Later in the drive, facing a fourth down and one, Stenberg rammed his way for three yards and a first down. Stenberg again got the call and sprung into the secondary for a fifteen-yard gain. Stenberg again duplicated the previous effort by sprinting by several defenders on a fifteen yard first down run. With the ball at the Huntingdon 13-yard line, a 10-yard holding penalty was call against the Rebels. A critical turnover occurred next as Milton fumbled deep in Huntingdon territory.

McKenzie's defense kept Huntingdon backed up for most of the second quarter. Big stops by Eric Gilbert, Hall, Stenberg, Justin Adkisson, Nathan Young and Howard Nolen kept the Mustangs backed up. Late in the second quarter, a 34-yard punt by Hall backed the visitors up to the seven-yard line. Keanon McKinnie got the call on first down for a two-yard gain. But on second down, Bell took the pitch
  

In the first half, the Rebels rushed for 169 yards and was one of four for 28 yards in the air. With 197 first half yards, a costly fumble kept the Rebels from being up by two touchdowns. Huntingdon garnered 98 total yards in first half action.

Huntingdon received the opening kickoff of the second half. The Mustangs coaching staff elected to put the ball in air the second half. On the opening drive, a ten-yard completion moved the ball to near mid-field. However, four plays later, a fourth down and six run produced only two yards.

McKenzie took it first possession of the final half and took over where they had ended the first. The offensive line provided good running room for the Big Red offensive back. Holland picked up eleven yards on first down. Perkins ground out another 12 yards. A Holland to Perkins pitch was fumbled and recovered by the Mustangs near mid-field.

On first down, McKinnie found running room for eight yards. Chris Stephens and a host of Rebel defenders then broke through the line and blasted McKinnie for a four-yard loss. Another pass to Bell gained 13 yards and helped the Mustangs out of the deficit. McKinnie hit the middle for a 17-yard gain down to the fifteen-yard line. Two plays later, McKinnie found running room again for an eight-yard pickup down to the Rebel one-yard line. Smothers capped off the eight-play drive with a one-yard touchdown. With only 43 seconds remaining in the third quarter, defensive tackle E. Gilbert blasted through the Huntingdon line and spiked the PAT attempt by kicker Marc Brown to the ground.

Third Quarter
McKenzie 7-Huntingdon 6
The ensuing kickoff was taken and returned to the Rebel 36-yard line. Stenberg ran for six yards on first down. Holland ran for six and another first down. Again the Rebels offensive line was driving the defenders off the ball. In the nine-play drive, Milton hit Huntingdon for eight and two yards. But the hard-running Stenberg ran three consecutive times for three yards, five yards and then a 13-yard Rebel touchdown. With 7:30 remaining in the contest, the crucial PAT was blocked by a host of defenders.

Fourth quarter
McKenzie 13-Huntingdon 6
Huntingdon methodically used most of the remaining 7:30 of the fourth quarter clock. Their 17-play drive began at their own 25-yard line. An apparent fumble was recovered by the Rebels at the Huntingdon 38-yard line. The ball carrier was ruled down and the Stangs continued their march for a score. With the ball at the Rebel 42-yard line, linebacker Young tackled Smothers after a two-yard gain. Two plays later, Smothers was hit by Jonathan Adkisson for a six-yard loss. Facing a big fourth down and ten at the McKenzie 26-yard line, Smothers found Nellett for an 11-yard first down. McKinnie was held by Mathis for no gain. But again, an eleven yard first down pass to Larry Patton put the ball at the McKenzie five-yard line. Two plays later, Smothers was tripped up for a three-yard loss. On third down, with the clock at just over the 1:20 mark, a completion to Weathers for five yards left Huntingdon facing a fourth and goal at the Rebel four-yard line. Both crowds stood on their feet as McKenzie's defensive front broke free and headed for the Huntingdon quarterback. Defensive tackle Gilbert was able to stop Smothers for a six-yard loss and ended the scoring threat.
With no time-outs Huntingdon could only watch as McKenzie ticked off win number ten, captured a Region 6-AA championship and left fans with the memory of one of the best games ever played at Rebel Field.

The 2001 TSSAA state playoffs begin with 32 teams. McKenzie will face Region 5-AA Fairview (5-5 overall) this Friday night at Rebel Field. After this Friday, only sixteen teams will remain. McKenzie will face the winner of the Loretto/Riverside match, again at Rebel Field.