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SPORTS NEWS FOR
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2002
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Final Four! - Rebels Beat Lewis County...again; Come From
Behind...again |
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By Jim Steele
steele@mckenziebanner.com |
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With 3:33 to play in the game and host McKenzie trailing
Lewis County 13-7, Rebel freshman quarterback Drew Hayes
was staring at spanning 82 improbable yards to preserve
what had already been a miracle season.
Tack on a five-yard motion penalty and the 87 yards made
an ominous task that much more arduous. Need to pile on
more soap-opera tripe? How about that any possession that
resulted in anything less than a touchdown meant a
heartbreaking end to the season.
But recovery seemingly is old hat for Hayes and these
Rebels. As a result, McKenzie pulled another rabbit out of
this old hat.
Hayes, playing with the grit and savvy of a hardened
veteran, completed seven passes for 81 yards, scrambled
for seven more, eluded the grasp of LC defenders and found
senior Jay Taylor all alone in the right back corner of
the end zone for the game-tying TD. The tandem did it with
24 seconds to spare.
The catch prompted a euphoric eruption from an already
vocal McKenzie crowd as MHS had rallied yet again.
Wait, it gets better.
Freshman kicker John Kermit Laughery booted the crucial
PAT to give the Rebs a 14-13 lead. For the third straight
week, the freshman foot has given the Rebels a key lift in
the clutch.
For those of you not reaching for antacid or nitroglycerin
tablets at this point, there's more.
On the ensuing kickoff, McKenzie seniors Demerick Diggs
and Randy Lacey trapped the Lewis County returner in the
end zone for a safety just six seconds later.
Okay, now you can call 9-1-1.
For the second straight season, McKenzie has dispatched
Lewis County to advance to the Class 2A state semifinals.
Thanks to the 16-13 victory over the puzzled Panthers, the
Rebels are a victory away from playing for the state
title. Next up, McKenzie travels to Memphis-Mitchell
(11-2) for the semifinal battle. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at
Whitehaven High School.
"These kids just will not quit," said an understandably
exhausted Rebel coach Wade Comer. "They make up for any
shortfall they have with heart."
Comer teased that the Rebels were baiting their
post-season opponents.
"We just like letting them think they've got it won," said
Comer with a sheepish smirk.
Hayes, making just his fourth start of the season, was
10-of-23 passing for 123 yards with two touchdowns and an
interception. He did most of his damage during the last
drive, where the Rebs set up to pass on every down. In the
process, McKenzie converted two critical third-down plays
and three do-or-die fourth down plays, the last going for
the game-winning TD.
"Pressure doesn't seem to faze that kid," said Comer.
"When it's crunchtime, he wants the ball in his hands."
Hayes had great protection, despite the loss of senior
lineman Ricky Mathis, a Mr. Football finalist. Mathis
suffered an injury to the medial collateral ligament in
his knee during the third quarter and did not return. When
the protection did break down, Hayes was able to scramble.
And when he scrambled, he often hooked up with the likes
of Taylor, Lacey or Matt Jones. All three had big catches
down the stretch, all three converting first downs. But
Taylor wanted it bad as time wound down. He had three big
grabs for first downs, the last tacking on a TD.
"Jay was out of breath and he wanted a time out, but I
wanted to save one," said Comer. "We kept running him and
he kept sucking it up and going. There wasn't a kid out
there that didn't give a great effort."
Taylor finished with five catches for 48 yards; Lacey
hauled in three aerials for 55 yards.
For the second straight year, McKenzie jumped on Lewis
County, thanks to a Panther present deep in their own
territory.
Lewis County fumbled the opening kickoff deep in its own
territory and McKenzie took over at the 24. Seven plays
and a fourth-down conversion later, Hayes locked up junior
receiver Daniel Duncan and connected for a 5-yard TD pass.
Laughery added the PAT and the Rebels, for a change, held
an early lead in the playoffs.
That didn't last long.
Two big plays in the second quarter gave the Panthers a
halftime lead. LC quarterback David Sharp launched a
58-yard pass to an all-alone Miles Staggs for the
game-tying score. Sharp added the kick.
McKenzie drove all the way down to the LC 34 where the
drive stalled with 35 seconds to play in the half. The
Rebels were pretty safe, huh?
Not exactly. On the next play Panther runner Ellis Dailey
spurted through the MHS line on a draw and raced 63 yards
to the end zone. Sharp missed badly to the left on the
kick, but Lewis County led 13-6 at the break.
"I told the kids that we were in the best shape we've been
in at half in a long time," Comer said. "Our defense
played pretty well because they only scored on two big
plays. We blew a coverage and outside of that, our defense
played well."
The Rebel defense took charge in the second half, limiting
the Panthers to a scant 7 yards in the third quarter and a
lone first down.
In the final frame, Lewis County fared no better. A motion
penalty killed a drive and eventually led to a punt. That
punt led to McKenzie's thrilling game-winning drive.
"I can't describe this team in words," said Comer. "I've
never seen the kids put forth an effort like this."
Sophomore running back Cody Cook had 30 carries for 111
yards to lead McKenzie. Dailey had 11 carries for 108
yards to lead the Panthers.
Taylor had eight tackles for MHS while Brad Campbell
recorded seven and John Craig Howell notched six.
McKenzie improves to 9-4 with the victory.
SUMMARY
L 0 13 0 0 13
M 7 0 0 9 16
FIRST QUARTER
M - 9:01 Daniel Duncan 5 pass from Drew Hayes, John Kermit
Laughery kick.
SECOND QUARTER
L - 11:12 Miles Staggs 58 pass from David Sharp, Sharp
kick.
L - :22 Ellis Dailey 63 run, kick failed.
FOURTH QUARTER
M - :24.2 Jay Taylor 12 pass from Hayes, Laughery kick.
M - :18.1 Randy Lacey, Demerick Diggs tackle LC returner
for a safety.
M L
Final score 16 13
First downs 16 8
Yds. rushing 94 166
Yds. passing 123 77
Total yds. 217 243
Fumbles-lost 2-1 3-2
Comp.-att.-int. 10-23-1 3-6-1
Punts-avg. 4-25 5-35
Penalties-yds. 5-40 5-35
Third down 4-16 6-9
Fourth down 6-7 0-1
Red zone-scores 2-2 0-2
Possession 30:22 17:38
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Tigers Fall to USJ in Quarterfinals, 21-7 |
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By Pat Cole
pcole@mckenziebanner.com |
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Hollow Rock-Bruceton was unable to break the Bruins of
University School of Jackson in Friday's quarterfinal
round of football, but led briefly on a PAT by Hunter
Stepp in their only scoring effort. Although Mr. Football
finalist for both back and lineman Patrick Willis was held
to only 99 yards in the game, they were hard fought as the
Bruins keyed in on his every move.
The game began with the Bruins on offense after winning
the toss and electing to move the ball down the field.
Move it they did as Bruin quarterback Will Woods went to
the air nine times on the 78-yard drive. The first play
was good for 10 yards with Josh Edwards and Willis on the
stop. The second brought seven on a pass to Caleb
Meriweather with Kevin Hurt making the tackle. Another
pass to Meriweather was good for the first down at the 47
before he was stopped by Keith McGee and Edwards. A fourth
pass was long and incomplete while the fifth was good to
John Pappas with John Castleman and Willis on the stop.
With a first down at the Central 42, Meriweather was the
recipient of a pass for six yards as McGee and Edwards
made the tackle. On second down, Woods threw the ball away
as he was rushed, but on third down, a pass to Adam Warren
brought a first down at the six before Edwards could make
the tackle. On first down, Woods found Pappas for the
touchdown at the 8:47 mark of the first period. Sam Woods
came in to kick the PAT which was blocked by Josh Irwin,
leaving the Bruins with a 6-0 lead.
Castleman took the kick and returned the ball to the Tiger
39 for their first offensive opportunity. The Bruins
defensive line held the Tigers to only two total yards of
offense on their first possession as Willis was able to
gain three and then two, but on third down he was held for
a loss of two and the Tigers Parker punted the ball which
rolled dead at the 21-yard line.
Once again the Bruins took to the air with a pass to
Meriweather good for five yards before Castleman made the
tackle. On second down, Warren was the receiver as McGee,
Hurt and Willis made the tackle at the 36. Woods was
sacked by Willis for a loss of seven and then Woods ran
for a gain of seven before he was brought down by Hurt. On
third and 10, Woods moved the ball up the middle for the
first down at the 48 before Willis made the tackle. A pass
to Warren was good for a first down at the Tiger 42 before
Robert "Doc" Treadway made the tackle. At that point
however the Tigers defensive line improved their coverage.
On first down a pass to Pappas resulted in a loss of one
on the hit by Hurt. On second down, Woods was again sacked
by Willis for a loss of 12. An incomplete pass to Warren
was followed by the punt which rolled to the Tiger 20-yard
line.
This time, the Tigers managed a sustained drive that
resulted in their only score of the night. McGee moved up
the middle for seven while Willis gained two and three
yards for the first down as the first quarter ended. On
first down, Aldridge moved for seven and Edwards passed
the ball to Irwin for the first down at the USJ 44. Parker
moved left for two while Aldridge picked up two more.
Willis then moved the ball to the 27 for the first down.
Aldridge was held for a loss of one and then broke loose
for a first down at the six where he was ruled out of
bounds. On first down, Aldridge moved for a gain of two,
Willis gained two and then the Tigers were penalized for
motion, moving the ball back to a third and seven. On the
handoff, Aldridge took the ball to the left and scored at
the 7:00 mark of the second quarter. Stepp came in to kick
the PAT and the Tigers held a 7-6 advantage.
Following the Tiger touchdown, the Bruins intensified
their offensive efforts and again the Tigers were caught
short as USJ used a five play drive to move the ball 71
yards. Pappis moved for a gain of four with Matt Forrest,
Willis and Edwards on the stop. Pappas moved the ball to
the 40 where Willis made the tackle. Pappas again moved
the ball with Hurt on the tackle and the Tigers penalized,
moving the ball to the Tiger 46. Pappas moved right and
Hurt made the tackle after a gain of six. On second down,
Woods reached back and passed the ball to Warren who raced
untouched 40 yards to the end zone for the Bruins second
score of the game at the 4:26 mark. The Bruins elected to
go for the two-point conversion with Woods passing again
to Warren as USJ took a 14-7 lead.
Willis received the short kick and was brought down at the
Tiger 35. Aldridge was held for a loss of one. A pass was
incomplete to Aldridge and then Willis was held for a loss
of one. The punt by Parker was partially blocked, but he
took the ball on the bounce and moved to the Tiger 40
where the Bruins took over at the 2:41 mark of the second
quarter.
This time the Tigers held with the assistance of a holding
penalty on the Bruins and two incomplete passes. Castleman
took the punt on a bounce and was stopped at the Tiger 17.
A first down pass to Aldridge was complete for a first
down at the 45. An incomplete pass to Ryan Taylor followed
and Willis was held for no gain. Incomplete passes to
Aldridge and Willis left 5.7 seconds on the clock as the
Bruins took over on downs. Woods completed a pass to
Warren, but he was brought down by Castleman as the first
half ended.
During intermission, the Marching Tigers presented their
competitive show for one final time to a capacity crowd.
The second half began with the Tigers receiving the
opening kickoff and Aldridge moved the ball to the 35.
McGee moved for four while Willis picked up one and then
four yards for the first down at the 45. Aldridge gained
one and then four yards while Willis was held to a gain of
three. On fourth down, Aldridge gained a first down at the
Bruins 43. Edwards was sacked, but managed to get the pass
off incomplete. Willis gained four and then Aldridge took
the ball and passed it downfield where it was picked off
by Meriweather, who was stopped by Wills at the Bruins
20-yard line.
Pappas moved left for a loss of one by Castleman and
Willis. On second and eleven, Woods again found Warren who
raced 81 yards for the touchdown at the 5:42 mark of the
third quarter. The kick by S. Woods was good and the
Bruins now led 21-7.
Aldridge took the ball and returned it to the Tiger 34.
However, a first down pass was incomplete and a pitch to
Willis gained only two yards. Edwards was unable to find a
receiver and was held for a loss of two on an attempted
run. Parker came in to punt the ball to the Bruin 39 yard
line at the 4:07 mark of the third period.
On first down, Will Wallace was held at the Tiger 46 by
Josh Chapple. Pappas was held for a loss of one by Willis
and Woods was held after a gain of two by Hurt and McGee.
Hurt and Willis held the advance to five and Aldridge
received the punt and returned it to the Tiger 14 with
1:08 remaining in the third quarter.
Willis broke up the middle and reached the Tiger 42 for
the first down. He gained two more yards as the third
quarter ended. Willis was then held to a gain of one and
the receiver signaled for a fair catch on the punt at the
Bruin 24.
The Bruins were again hampered by a holding penalty as
Willis, McGee, Edwards, Chapple, Hurt and Irwin held for
the defenders. On fourth and 16, the ball was punted to
the Central 33.
Willis then moved right for five and right again for one.
On third down, Willis moved the ball left and reached the
Bruin 45 for the first down. With Willis in control of the
ball, the Bruins received a personal foul, face mask
penalty, moving the ball to their 25. However, their
defensive line buckled down and the Tigers were held to a
loss of one on the four downs and the Bruins took over at
the 5:34 mark.
The Bruins began one final sustained drive with Willis,
Hurt, Castleman, Irwin, Edwards, Treadway, Chapple and
Parker on the defensive effort. Finally after reaching the
16-yard line and with only seconds remaining on the clock,
Woods took a knee to end the game with a Bruin victory.
Following the game, after congratulations were extended by
both teams at midfield and a joint prayer by the two
teams, Tigers raised their helmets one last time and
seniors sobbed in desperation. As fans entered the field
and players began to exit, most of the seniors sobbed
uncontrollably at midfield and gained comfort from
parents, fans and cheerleaders. The Tigers complete the
2002 season with a 10-3 record. |
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Phone (731) 352-3323 or
Fax (731) 352-3322
washburn@mckenziebanner.com
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