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There isn’t much more to say about Thursday night’s game than that.

Statistically, the Panthers and Rebs were fairly even. Consistency, however, was an unwelcome guest in the MHS clubhouse.

The Rebels were inconsistent after the second quarter and struggled to sustain anything offensively.

“We’d move the ball and we’d sputter, move the ball and sputter,” said Rebel coach Wade Comer.

One of the big differences in the game was the fact that Riverside converted two of five third down situations and was perfect in two fourth-down tries in the final frame. The Panthers held the ball almost 10 minutes of the fourth quarter. When McKenzie did get the ball back, its back was against the goal post.

“In the fourth quarter, we couldn’t get the ball back,” said Comer. “They converted a couple of fourth downs and clicked it on down the field. That helped them a lot.”

The loss drops McKenzie to third place in the region, for the moment. It is 4-2 overall and 2-1 in 6AA. Riverside improves to 5-1 and 3-0 in the league, tied with Huntingdon for the top spot. The Mustangs drilled Camden 57-19 on Thursday night to move to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the region. In spite of the loss, McKenzie still has a chance for a home playoff game and a regional title, but much has to happen.

All of Carroll County’s games were moved to Thursday night in anticipation of heavy rainfall and stormy weather from Hurricane Lili.

McKenzie quickly got on the board. The Rebels caused a fumble on Riverside’s initial drive and promptly marched 47 yards in five plays to the end zone. Cody Cook scored from the 1 with 5:15 to play. The point-after kick was short, but the Rebs led 6-0.
Daniel Beal’s fumble recovery and Matt Merrick’s 16-yard pass to Matt Jones set up the drive.

It didn’t take long for Riverside to answer. The Panthers responded with a seven-play, 67-yard drive ending in Jerry Golder’s 23-yard run. Lee Villaflor’s PAT nudged the Panthers in front 7-6 and the defensive struggle was on.

After nothing doing in the second frame, the Rebels took control in the third and appeared to be headed for six points. Demerick Diggs burst five yards on a fourth-down try from the 50 and Brad Campbell streaked 13 yards for a first down at the Panther 29. The Rebs managed to get down to the 26 for a fourth-and-3. Diggs was stopped short at the line of scrimmage and Riverside took over.

After a fumble, recovered by Jay Taylor, McKenzie drove down the to Panther 23 and faced a fourth-and-two, which was thwarted by the speedy Riverside linebackers.

“Their linebackers are real good and we knew that going into the game,” said Comer. “We couldn’t get their back side linebacker blocked and he killed us.”

That was Golder, who had stop after stop after big stop. He also led Riverside in rushing with 19 carries for 114 yards.

Comer was pleased with the Rebel defense that bent, but never really broke.

“Our defense played well enough to win,” he said. “When you hold a team to one score, you ought to win. We just couldn’t make the big play; we had opportunities and we just didn’t capitalize.”

Beal was a vacuum cleaner for the Rebels. He racked up 13 total tackles, recovered a fumble and had two sacks for minus-13 yards. John Craig Howell had 12 total stops and a sack for a 6-yard loss. Ricky Mathis had nine total tackles.

“Beal played real well,” said Comer.

Offensively, Cook had 15 carries for 56 yards and a TD. Diggs had 14 carries for 56 yards. Campbell had six for 37. Matt Merrick was 3-7 passing for 25 yards. Riverside’s Derrick Pritchard was 2-5 for 35 yards passing.

“We were a little inconsistent tonight,” said Comer. “We’d play well at times and other times we’d have a little letdown.”
The Rebels travel to Newbern and a brand new stadium when they face Dyer County this Friday night. Kickoff is 7:30.

SUMMARY

R 7 0 0 0   7
M 6 0 0 0   6

M - 5:15 Cody Cook 1 run, kick failed. (9 plays, 47-yards, 4:13)

R - 1:39 Jerry Golder 23 run, Lee Villarflor kick. (7 plays 67 yards, 3:36)

                          R         M
Final score           7         6
First downs         12        10
Att.-yds. rushing  43-183 38-153
Yds. passing        35        25
Att.-comp.-int.    3-7-0    2-5-0
Total yards          201      178
No. of plays         53        45
Fumbles-lost        4-3       1-1
Punts-avg.          2-28      1-36
Penalties-yds.      3-25     1-10
Possession          25:38    22:22
Third down         3-9        3-9
Fourth down       2-2        1-5
Red zone-chances 1-1       0-2

The War Eagles were on offense to begin the game and Robert Smith downed the initial kickoff at the West Carroll 30-yard line. A motion call against Central gave the War Eagles first and five. On the handoff, the ball was fumbled, but quickly recovered by West Carroll at the 34. Terry Parker held Jeremiah Johnson for a loss of four and a third down pass was long. Justin Smith punted the ball to the 47 where the Tigers took over.

Patrick Willis moved right for a gain of six followed by a loss of five on the tackle by Johnson. Willis then moved left and was finally stopped by Shane Depriest at the War Eagle 14-yard line. Willis picked up four up the middle and on a run around the right end, was stopped at the two by R. Smith and Wesley Arnold. Willis then gained the end zone at the 8:23 mark for a touchdown. Hunter Stepp kicked the PAT and the Tigers led 7-0.

Depriest received the kickoff and was stopped by Josh Irwin at the 34. An incomplete pass to Johnson began the series while Chancy Depriest moved right for a gain of two before Willis made the stop. West Carroll recovered a fumble but the War Eagles were quickly forced to punt with Michael Aldridge on the reception and J. Smith and Brooks Blackketter on the stop.

Keith McGee got the nod on the first two handoffs for gains of three and four yards as a host of War Eagles combined for the stops. Willis moved right and was run out of bounds by Jason Lott one foot shy of the first down. Quarterback Josh Edwards held for the first down up the middle and was stopped by a host at the 48-yard line. Parker took the ball right for five yards while Aldridge picked up the first down at the 19. J. Smith, Kevin Taylor, Lott, R. Smith and Johnson were in on the tackles. On first down, Willis moved left for the touchdown at the 3:44 mark, breaking two tackles in the run. Stepp kicked the PAT and the Tigers led 14-0.

Johnson received the kickoff and was stopped by McGee at the 28. As S. Depriest moved to the left, the ball was stripped from his grasp and recovered by Tiger Robert Treadway at the War Eagle 21.

After a motion penalty on the Tigers, Chris Rimmer and R. Smith held McGee for no gain. A pass was completed to Ryan Taylor, who was stopped by Johnson and a facemask penalty was assessed, placing the ball at the three-yard line. Parker moved up the middle and was stopped by Cody Cunningham and Arnold, who was shaken on the play. A penalty moved the ball back and finally on fourth and 20, a pass to Willis brought the Tigers third touchdown of the game at the 13.8 mark. Once again, Stepp’s kick was good and the Tigers held a 21-0 advantage.

Parker’s kick went into the end zone, giving the War Eagles first down at their own 20-yard line. S. Depriest moved up the middle and found running room to the 35 before John Castleman and Edwards brought him down. Depriest moved again for a gain of four with Parker and Kevin Hurt on the tackle. Johnson picked up a yard before Parker tackled him and then Chris Cannon reached back to pass the ball to J. Smith for a first down before Aldridge made the tackle. C. Depriest moved right for one with Aldridge and Hurt on the tackle and Johnson was held to a gain of three. Cannon held for a gain of one with Treadway on the tackle. Aldridge received the punt and was stopped by Blackketter at the Tiger 25.

The Tiger possession was only four plays as Edwards was held for a loss of six by Taylor and then for a loss of six more by S. Depriest. On third and 22, Willis moved to the right and made it to the Tiger 40 before R. Smith brought him down. On first down, Edwards reached back and passed to ball to Aldridge, who shook the tackle by C. Depriest and outran J. Smith as he reached the end zone at the 6:15 mark. The PAT by Stepp was good and the Tigers now led 28-0.

J. Smith received the ball and was stopped by Edwards and Parker at the War Eagle 38. A pass to C. Depriest was good for a first down at the 49 with Edwards on the tackle. S. Depriest moved the ball for five and then a first down at the Tiger 33. Treadway, Willis and Edwards made the tackles. S. Depriest picked up four with Hurt and Josh Chapple on the tackle. C. Depriest moved with Castleman on the tackle, but a penalty moved the ball back to second and 16. S. Depriest then moved for no gain with Patrick Adams on the tackle. Cannon then reached back and passed the ball to J. Smith, which was good for 10 yards before Aldridge made the tackle. On fourth down, the War Eagles decided to go for the down and a pass intended for C. Depriest was intercepted by Willis, who returned the ball to the Tiger 42 before he was stopped by Cannon.

Edwards completed a pass to Aldridge who was stopped at the 24 and then McGee moved left and scored a touchdown at the 2:04 mark. The PAT was wide to the left and the Tigers held a 34-0 lead.

The War Eagles began their next possession at their own 20 after the ball was kicked into the end zone by Parker. The War Eagles managed to pick up eight yards before the first half expired.
During intermission, the home fans were doubly entertained as they first saw the Marching Tigers and then their own Marching War Eagles as each presented their award winning shows. Each band received strong applause from the home fans.

The second half began with the Tigers receiving the kickoff and beginning their possession at their own 37-yard line. Willis was able to gain five yards and then McGee picked up two with the stops by Rick Coleman and Arnold. A motion penalty gave the Tigers first down at the 50-yard line. Willis was held to a gain of two by K. Taylor and then a pass to R. Taylor was long. Willis moved first for five and then right for the first down. Arnold and K. Taylor made the tackles. Willis was shaken on the latter play and a measurement confirmed the first down. Aldridge moved left for another first down at the 29 with R. Smith on the tackle. McGee was held for a gain of only two with Arnold, Rimmer, and Johnson on the tackles. Parker moved for a gain of four and then Aldridge moved left for the first down at the 12 as C. Depriest, K. Taylor, Arnold and R. Smith made the stop. Aldridge moved up the middle for a gain of three as Lott, R. Smith and Arnold held the line. Aldridge then moved around the right end and found the end zone at the 5:16 mark of the third quarter. Stepp’s kick was good and the Tigers now led 41-0.

Parker’s kick was again in the end zone as the War Eagles took over at their own 20-yard line. On first down, S. Depriest moved up the middle and was stopped by Treadway after a gain of two. Willis held C. Depriest for a loss. Cannon reached back and threw the ball to J. Smith before several Tigers creamed him and Smith shook Castleman before he was stopped at the 46 for a first down. C. Depriest was able to picked up eight yards before Aldridge stopped him. A motion penalty on the War Eagles moved the ball back five yards and then S. Depriest moved the ball for a loss of one by Willis. On third and eight, Cannon reached back to pass the ball, Aldridge jumped high for the interception and Johnson made the tackle. At the 1:17 mark of the third quarter, the Tigers second offensive unit moved onto the field with Stepp taking over at quarterback at the Tiger 22.

Will McMackin moved up the middle for a first down at the 35 with a host of War Eagles on the stop. McMackin moved again for a gain of three with Rimmer and Arnold on the tackle. McMackin was held for no gain by Arnold as the third quarter ended. A pass to Irwin was good for a first down at the 49 with Cannon on the tackle. McMackin moved right for five with Lott on the tackle. K. Taylor held Raynard Ambrew to a single yard and a pass to Nick Eason was incomplete. A penalty for having an illegal receiver downfield was declined, leaving the Tigers with fourth and four and punting. The punt was short, but a personal foul penalty on the War Eagles returned offensive possession to the Tigers. McMackin moved the ball for a first down and then picked up an additional seven yards. Arnold was hurt on the play and left the game by ambulance. On the next play, the fired up War Eagles caused a fumble, which was recovered by Cannon, and the War Eagles were on the move.

C. Depriest moved up the middle for a gain of four and then around right end for a first down at the 26. Patrick Adams and Ambrew made the latter tackle. S. Depriest moved right for five with Rob Eldridge on the tackle and then moved again for a first down at the 41 with Albiro King and McMackin on the tackle. Johnson picked up six before Adams stopped him while S. Depriest moved up the middle with the stop by Eldridge. With a first down at the Tiger 45, C. Depriest moved right and was stopped by King. After a facemask was assessed the War Eagles had a first down at the Tiger 23. S. Depriest moved for no gain and then again for a first down at the seven with the stop by Stepp. S. Depriest picked up three with Eason, Franco Lambraia, Danny Cason and Adams on the stop. Following a penalty on a run by Depriest with Cason and Stepp on the stop, C. Depriest took the ball right and into the end zone. Cannon then passed the ball to J. Smith for the two-point conversion at the 1:01 mark and the score was now 41-8 Central.

Aldridge received the kick from K. Taylor and was stopped at the 24 by S. Depriest. McMackin was held by Cannon and R. Smith to end the game. Michael Adridge was presented the Big Star Player of the Game award for the Tigers after the two teams met on the field for a joint prayer.

This Friday night the Tigers will celebrate homecoming as they host Halls in a regional contest while the War Eagles will be traveling to South Fulton for a regional battle. The Tigers improve to 4-2 for the season while the War Eagles fell to 2-4 overall.

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