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By MHS Principal Terry Howell |
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Cardiac Kids or Supra-men - Call them what you will.
This year's football team continues to play better and
better as each week passes. This week's thriller was a
16-13 victory over heavily-favored Lewis County at Rebel
Stadium.
The Rebels did the unusual for them in this game by
taking the early first quarter lead 7-0. In the second
frame Lewis County stormed back with a long touchdown
pass to knot the score at 7-7. The two teams battled
evenly through the second quarter, and Lewis County
appeared to be satisfied to run out the time in the
first half when they received possession of the ball
with 45 seconds left in the half. A single time-killing
draw play, however, turned into a 64-yard touchdown for
the Panthers. The point after touchdown, significantly,
was wide left. The second half of the game developed
into a defensive affair with neither offense able to
penetrate the end zone. Although the Rebels moved the
ball, their drives either stalled or they were
victimized by the big play defense of the Panthers. The
Rebels displayed their own version of smash-mouth
football. The defense held the high-powered Panther
offense to three first downs and 27 yards of total
offense. it was an inspired effort against a Lewis
County team noted for its offensive explosiveness. With
approximately 3 1/2 minutes left in the game the Panther
punter booted the ball deep into Rebel territory on the
18 yard line. The Rebels had to abandon their usual mode
of operation - running the ball - and resort to the
pass. It was a time that called for a Supra-effort and
Supra-execution. Displaying the poise of a polished
veteran, freshman Drew Hayes marched the Rebels down the
field. With superb pass blocking by the offensive line
and crisp pass routes by his receivers, Hayes completed
7 of 13 passes during the drive. The team converted not
one, not two, but three fourth down attempts in the
drive. Facing fourth down in the waning seconds of the
game, Hayes found senior Jay Taylor behind the defenders
in the end zone for the game-tying touchdown. Taylor
made a spectacular catch on a spectacular throw. Enter
John Kermit Laughrey, a kicker who is as cool as the
other side of the pillow. Having been there so often,
Laughrey followed proper mechanics of kicking after the
snapper and placer had done their jobs and drilled the
game-winning extra point. With a 15-yard penalty on
Lewis County, Laughrey booted the ensuing kick-off down
to the goal line. The Lewis County runner gave ground to
the end zone where he met junior Jacob Smith who tacked
on two more points for the Rebels with the safety. The
Lewis County kick-off was recovered by the Rebels. Hayes
took a knee to preserve the Rebel 16-13 victory.
The Rebels return to the semi-finals for the second
consecutive year. We are one of only three schools in
West Tennessee (outside Memphis) in the mix for a state
championship. We are one of only four teams in the state
in 2-A left in the competition: Not bad for a third
place regional team, a team that had to fill 21 of 22
slots this year with inexperienced players. But these
players have come of age. They think they can win and so
do I. Congratulations to our players and coaches for
another supra effort. This week we travel to Memphis
Mitchell. Game time is 7:00 p.m. We do not have advanced
tickets. They may be purchased at the gate.
At the risk of leaving someone out, I wanted to thank
Ricky French and the City of McKenzie for their help in
getting our field ready for Friday night. After our game
against Fairview, the field was a quagmire. Ricky French
and his crew with help from Glen Jones, Jerry Drewry,
and Brad Jones made the field playable and the footing
to be very good and sure. Also, Spain Brothers from
Gleason was gracious enough to loan us a top dresser to
spread sand on the playing field. To them, we owe a debt
of gratitude. To those and anyone else that I
inadvertently omitted, thank you.
Congratulations to Cody Cook. Cody was named the Taco
Bell Player of the Week by 96.5 ESPN radio out of
Lexington for his Second Round game against Fairview.
Cody gained 122 yards on 30 carries to earn this award.
As always, the offensive line assisted Cody in garnering
this award. Cody has already established the Rebel
single-season rushing record with 1,514 yards. He is to
be commended for having an outstanding sophomore year.
Because of the extended football season, the
basketball game scheduled for Tuesday, November 26, has
been re-scheduled to a later date. The team will begin
play on Tuesday, December 3, against Stewart County.
Members of this year's girls' team are seniors Jennifer
Johnson, Jasmine McMackins, Julie Smith, Becky Toombs,
and Kristin Wiggins; juniors Mallory Brandon, Sarah
Hartz, Brittany Russell, and Hope Wyder; sophomores
Renee Crawley and Mia Stephens; and freshmen Jalisha
Brown, Brooke Cole, Rema Salameh, and Courtney Wiggins.
The lone senior of the boys' team is Ryan Drewry. Junior
members are Daniel Duncan, John French, John Craig
Howell, Bryan Huffman, Robert Jones, and Larry Clubb;
sophomores Clint Anderson, Cody Cook, Mark Ghyers, Randy
Lacey, Charles Nored, and Jordan Trull; and freshmen
Craig Broadbent, Beau Brown, Jake Brown, Cody Brown,
Hunter Downing, Drew Hayes, Caleb Owen, Brice Priestley,
Greg Pruitt, Marshall Smith, Marquice Tharpe, Jonathan
Wheat and Justin Wilson. The next games after the
Thanksgiving break will be at home against Stewart
County on December 3 and at home against West Carroll on
December 6. The first road game will be December 10 at
Huntingdon. The girls are coached by Dan Ridley with
assistance from Bruce Herrin. The boys are coached by
Larry Joe Smith. Assistant coaches are Matt McCaleb and
volunteer coach David Bone, a retired coach and educator
from Missouri. Come out to watch this year's edition of
the Lady Rebels and Rebels.
On Tuesday, December 11, members of the Spanish Club and
those students in Spanish II will travel to Clarksville
to see a performance of The Barber of Seville. This
Spanish opera will feature the National Theater of the
Performing Arts out of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Our
Spanish Club has attended this performance for the past
two or three years and has enjoyed the performance done
in Spanish and the spectacle of live theater.
Thirty-seven students will attend this year's
performance. Spanish Club sponsors are Carol Brewster
and Erika Cole.
Project Graduation will begin preliminary plans for its
Great Pretenders presentation. All seniors and parents
are asked to attend an important organizational meeting
on Thursday, December 5, at 6:30 P.M. At this time, Ron
Arnold, the Great Pretender's promotional man, will
detail to all present what the Great Pretenders is, the
responsibilities of parents and students, and ideas
about staging and performing their presentation. The
high school version of Great Pretenders is scheduled for
Saturday, February 15, and Sunday, February 16 at Bethel
College. Seniors and parents are expected to meet to
discuss this major fundraiser to promote an alcohol and
drug-free environment in Project Graduation.
To all parents of students in Biology I and Biology for
Technology, English II, Algebra I, and Math Foundations
II, we will administer the Gateway tests and the
Foundations II end of course test. The Algebra Gateway
and math end-of-course exam will be administered on
December 10. The Biology Gateway will be December 11.
The English Gateway will be December 12. All Gateway
exams will count 15% of the second semester grade. More
importantly, students who entered high school this year
or last year must pass the Gateway to receive a regular
diploma. Please stress the importance of this test to
your child, especially the next few weeks as teachers
emphasize goals and objectives and state standards that
are a part of this state-mandated test.
School will not be in session this week on Wednesday,
Thursday, or Friday. We will observe the traditional
Thanksgiving break on these days. School will resume on
December 2. At that point we will have only three more
weeks before Christmas vacation.
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