|
By Bobby Young
After the rain clouds cleared, the big opening 6-AA
contest between two experienced teams got underway.
McKenzie's Rebels totally dominated with the ground
game. Churning out 388 yards, the visiting Rebels
scored in every quarter and registered a very
important, 6-AA victory, 35-14.
Pre-game Rebel team captains were seniors David
Duncan, Nathan Young, Shiron Perkins and Carone Tharpe.
McKenzie won the toss but deferred its selection until
the second half.
The ball was kicked to the twenty-five yard line.
McKenzie's special teams allowed a return to the
forty-two yard line of Camden. Rebel noseguard Brannon
Milton hit fullback Nathan Leonard for a one yard loss
on first down. Linebacker Justin Adkisson stopped the
Lions Jonathan Hayes after a two-yard gain. A third
down pass for only two yards was defended by Perkins.
Camden's twenty-eight yard punt was returned by Duncan
to the Rebel forty yard line.
The gray clad Rebels wasted little time setting the
tone for the game. On first down, Milton ran behind
Ricky Mathis for three yards. Perkins ran for three
yards on second down. On third down, Taylor Holland
rolled outside and threw to Duncan for a six yard
first down. Milton tried the middle again for five
yards. A costly fifteen yard Camden personal foul
penalty put the ball down to the Lions' twenty-eight
yard line. Duncan moved in and took a handoff from
Holland and then moved into the Camden secondary
almost undetected. Duncan's sprinter speed enabled him
to go virtually untouched for a 28-yard score. With
8:14 remaining in the first quarter, Josh Stenberg
kicked the PAT good.
First Quarter
McKenzie 7-Camden 0
McKenzie's kickoff moved deep and then great coverage
by the special teams caused Camden to be backed up
deep at its own 18-yard line. Eric Gilbert, the Rebels
senior defensive tackle, made three stops on the
drive. Adkisson and Mitchell Hall had stops in the
Lions' drive that lasted only five plays.
McKenzie began its second drive from the Camden
thirty-yard line. Stenberg ran behind Jeremy Sydnor
for a big six yard gain. A wet ball helped cause a
second down fumble. Holland was unable to hold the
ball as Camden took over only 39 yards away from a
score.
A middle screen netted thirteen yards for Camden on
first down. McKenzie's defense was unable to slow a
very determined group of Lions. Senior Hayes ran a
couple of misdirection plays and the Rebels could not
slow the speedster. After six plays Camden had pushed
the ball down to the Rebels six yard line. Tailback
Hayes blasted into the middle of the Rebels defensive
front and rammed into the McKenzie safety and went
untackled for a Camden score. With :47 remaining in
the first quarter, Jeremy Harris booted the extra
point.
First Quarter
McKenzie 7-Camden 7
The visiting Rebels had a point to prove and did just
that. Wade Comer's gray went on a 13-play, 68 yard
scoring drive. Impressive offensive line blocking by
center Jonathan Gaskins and guards Sydnor and Mathis
provided good running room. Big tackles Bruce Anderson
and Stevia Harris kept Camden on their heels.
On first down, Holland hit Duncan for a big nine yard
gain. Perkins ran five consecutive times for gains of
one, six, one, four and six yards. Milton had a
six-yard haul down to the Camden thirty yard line.
Stenberg took over and ran three times for 19 yards.
With the ball resting on the Lions eight yard line,
big Milton blasted his way to the one-yard line on a
seven-yard jaunt. Stenberg crunched his way into the
end zone from one yard out. With 6:28 remaining in the
second quarter, the two-point conversion fell apart as
a Hall to Stenberg option was stopped.
Second Quarter
McKenzie 13-Camden 7
After Camden's next possession, that lasted only three
plays, McKenzie took over at their own 24-yard line.
On first down, fans witnessed the most electrifying
Rebel run to date in 2001. Perkins found the outside
off the Rebels left side. The senior tailback quickly
dodged and slashed his way to mid-field. A couple of
good downfield blocks by Duncan helped Perkins race
and sprint some 70 yards down to the Camden six-yard
line. On first down. Stenberg rammed for four yards.
Fullback Milton crushed a couple of tacklers and fell
into the end zone. With 2:56 remaining before the
half, Stenberg ran the two-point conversion.
Second Quarter
McKenzie 21-Camden 7
With just under three minutes remaining before
intermission, again the tough Rebels defense, led by
Hall, completed stalled the failing Lions. Hall and
Demerick Diggs sacked Ross Lumpkin for a six-yard
loss.
McKenzie took over with just over a minute left before
intermission at their own 42-yard line. On first down,
Holland hit Hall for a 14-yard first down. Holland
then hit Tharpe for another 20-yard first down. With
the ball at Camden's 18-yard line, Holland found
Duncan for a five-yard reception on third down. With
only 30 seconds remaining in the half, Holland found
Duncan in the end zone, but the pass was tipped away.
The first two quarters were dominated by the visiting
Rebels. McKenzie ran for 174 yards and threw for
another 54 yards. The Rebels 228 yard first half
production was far ahead of the Lions. Camden had only
43 rushing yards and 18 passing yards by intermission.
Following halftime performances by the Marching Rebel
and Marching Lion bands, the game resumed with the
Rebels gaining the first offensive opportunity.
It took McKenzie little time to set the tone for the
second half. The Rebels began at their own 30 yard
line. Perkins, Milton and Stenberg ran the ball for a
total of 17 yards on three consecutive downs. With the
ball at the Lion seventeen yard line, Perkins found
the end zone with 7:25 to go in the third quarter.
Stenberg's PAT was good.
Third Quarter
McKenzie 28-Camden 7
Defensively, McKenzie completely controlled the third
quarter. The Lions were held to a minus nine yards
rushing for the period.
On the Lions first possession of the quarter, Hayes
was thrown for a one-yard loss by senior strong safety
Young. Stenberg and Diggs hit quarterback Lumpkin for
a five-yard loss.
After regaining offensive possession, it appeared the
Rebels were going in for a fifth score when another
fumble at the Camden one-yard line was recovered in
the end zone by Camden.
The Lions began their next possession eighty yards
away from a touchdown. Sophomore Michael Dodd ran for
fifteen yards in the drive and an apparent incomplete
pass was picked up off the turf by Greg Pierpoint and
led to a thirty-three yard advance. Camden junior Ryne
Haynie caught an eighteen yard pass down to the Rebel
19-yard line. On second down, Chris Stephens hit Hayes
for a five-yard loss. But on third down, Lumpkins
found Haynie in the end zone from 11 yards out. With
4:18 remaining in the game, Harris kicked the PAT.
Fourth Quarter
McKenzie 28-Camden 14
McKenzie's final scoring drive began from the Rebel
forty-three yard line. A tiring Camden defense could
do little to stop the blocking of the Rebels massive
offensive line. Stenberg ran on six of the seven
rushing attempts. Stenberg ran for seven, 13, 26, one
and seven yards. On the three yard line, the Rebels
closed the book on this crucial 6-AA contest.
Stenberg's hard running let him find the end zone.
With only 1:02 remaining in the contest, the Rebels
PAT by Stenberg was good.
Fourth Quarter
McKenzie 35-Camden 14
With tough Riverside, Chester County, Adamsville, and
Huntingdon remaining on the Region 6-AA schedule, this
Camden win was a must if the Rebels were to retain
hopes of a regional championship run.
This Friday night, a trip to Trenton to battle the
Peabody Golden Tide will be in front of the Rebels.
Head Coach Tim Haney (75 wins, 60 losses) will have
the Tide ready. Trenton dominated 47-14 over Chester
County in the first week of the season. This past
Friday night, Trenton was downed by Union City 27-6
(they were only down 14-6 in the fourth quarter).
McKenzie has had good success against Trenton
recently. Since 1999, the Rebels have been able to
post back to back wins over the Tide (1999: 20-14 in
two overtimes; 2000: 20-13).
Coach Haney's black and gold boasts more speed than in
several years. A good junior class will help the Tide
be competitive. McKenzie goes into game three with a
great deal of confidence. However, a couple of key
injuries (Matt Merrick: shoulder and Jonathan Adkisson:
shoulder) are concerns for the Rebel coaching staff.
Kickoff at Trenton this Friday night will be 7:30 p.m.
|
