Call the McKenzie High School cheerleaders spirited, smart, hard-working, peppy, but don't forget to call them something else: state champions.

For the second year in a row, the MHS spirit squad has earned the TSSAA state championship during competition last month at Murfreesboro in the cheer division.

"Considering that we aren't a competitive school like the Memphis teams, Germantown, Bartlett, I'm pretty proud," said MHS cheerleading coach Christie Plunk. "We've done very well the past two years."

Members of the squad include seniors Savanna Cooper, Amanda Rogers and Carrie Stambaugh; juniors Brandi Burke, Rachael Clark and Heidi Thomas; sophomores Callan Hayes and Whitney Hopper; and freshman Wendy Brown, Heather Huffman, Anna
Smith and Jenna Smith.

With four freshman on the squad, Plunk wasn't sure what to expect.

"We've never had that many on the squad before," said the coach. "They were inexperienced so I told them that they need to go out and give their best effort because these seniors wanted to go out on a high."

Perhaps that was the key.

"I think they sort of thought that the hard work they had to do wasn't necessary," Plunk said. "But now they see how hard work pays off."

And the Rebels are state champs, again.

Plunk attributes much of the success of the squad to the leadership of the seniors.

"We have three seniors who have been with me all four years," she said. "Leadership has been one of the keys."

Prior to last year, McKenzie had placed nationally in competition during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Recently, McKenzie was generally a top-five team in the state. Last year, it broke through.

"We had been close," Plunk said. "The thing that makes it tough is that in other sports, coaches can see films of what other teams are doing and prepare for them; we don't have a clue what other squads are doing."

The Rebel squad was judged on coordination, precision, fundamentals, voice, enthusiasm and creativity.

Not only are is the squad talented, it also is studious.

"They are good students and we tell them that's the main goal, academics," Plunk said.

"It's tough because they have to cheer for football and basketball seasons, do their school work, some of them hold jobs and some of them do other things, like track or other sports."
One of the challenges of being a cheerleader is learning the different sports.

"Sometimes it takes the girls about two years to learn the rules and what's going on in the games," Plunk said. "But they do care about the teams and how they do."

The coach said the squad has tryouts in March, then begins practice, works through the summer, goes to summer camp, then gets ready for the first football game. When football season is over, basketball is right on its heels, then tryouts again the following March.

"People don't realize, but it has become a year-round thing, like everything else," Plunk said. "We do have about two weeks off at the end of basketball."

But the effort is paying dividends at the moment. And with a second straight state crown on the hat rack, Plunk says the team has no plans to become complacent.

"I have high expectations," she said. "We expect to have that same kind of effort for every game and every practice."

And his last game in a Mustang football uniform was memorable. He scored six touchdowns, ran 32 times for 321 yards, tying the TD mark, smashing the yardage total for the Blue Cross Bowl, and earned offensive MVP honors.

Likewise, his classmate and teammate Brian Nellett scooped up a fumble, recorded six tackles and led a record-break defensive effort - Huntingdon intercepted six passes, a Blue Cross Bowl record - and, as a result, earned defensive MVP accolades.

Oh, by the way, Huntingdon, in the process, captured the Class 2A state football championship with a 48-14 demolition of defending title holder David Lipscomb here Friday night.

It was a great send-off for 18 seniors who had a marksman's focus on that gold pigskin.

"I knew when we came out that we were going to play well," said HHS coach Mike Mansfield, now one-for-two in state title games. "This team has been on a mission all year."

Huntingdon set the tempo early and pretty much had its way with the purple-clad Mustangs. Offensively, Huntingdon ran pretty much at will with Bell, obviously, Chris Donald, Phillip "Boo" Weathers and Kory Geans. Huntingdon piled up 451 yards on the ground. Quarterback Adam Parish completed one of two passes for 13 yards. He wasn't asked to do much else, except give Bell and crew the ball.

And, consequently, the Mustangs dominated when few thought they could.

"People have said this team can't do this or that, but these guys stepped up time after time after time," Mansfield said. "This team has been on a mission and now that mission is complete. I can't say enough about these guys."

The Mustangs started strong and never let up, even when leading by four scores late. On the first play of the game, Lipscomb was introduced to Huntingdon linebackers. An all-out blitz by Stephen Wright and Hunter Hastings stuffed Austin Rogers for a 5-yard loss. On the next play Nellett forced the fumble that led to the first Huntingdon score. Parish ended an 8-play, 22-yard drive with his 1-yard plunge at the 7:22 mark and the rout was on.

Three minutes later, Mark Newsome picked off the first of Huntingdon's record six interceptions, setting up Bell's first TD. With :13 to play in the first, Bell scampered in from the 21, capping a 10-play, 73-yards drive. Newsome added the second of his six extra points and the Carroll Co. Mustangs were in the saddle and using the riding crop on the Nashville Mustangs.

Lipscomb showed a bit of the acumen that earned it state-contender status. Lipscomb quarterback Elrod Burton hooked up with Rogers for an 84-yard TD pass with 11:05 to play in the half. Robertson's boot made the game a one-possession affair.
Huntingdon wasn't spooked, though. It countered less than a minute later when Bell raced 62 yards down the middle of the field for the score and a 21-7 lead. The Mustangs put up a couple of defensive stands, including Newsome's sack of punter John Wilkerson with 3:03 to play in the half. Three plays and 14 yards later, Huntingdon led 28-7 when bell scored from the 1. At the break, Huntingdon led Lipscomb 27-7.

"I told these guys in the locker room before the game that we had to make them execute everything - running, passing, punts, everything," Mansfield said. "They couldn't answer what we threw at them."

The start of the second half was very much like the first half. Bell sprinted 66 yards for a touchdown and the Mustangs smelled victory, leading 34-7, with 9:55 left in the third quarter.

Weathers picked off a pass, but the Mustangs lost the ball on downs, which wasn't that big a deal; Huntingdon had great faith in its defense. It worked. Lipscomb lost the ball itself on downs during the next possession and the Mustangs extended its lead
Bell dashed 25 yards for a score and a 41-7 lead with 2:18 remaining in the third.

With the cake thoroughly iced, Huntingdon decided to add another layer to the confection and add another can of frosting.
Needing one more score to tie the scoring record, Bell got his shot. On fourth-and-goal from the 4, Bell followed his line and went all the way to the goal post. Newsome enhanced Huntingdon's 48-7 cushion with his kick.

Lipscomb added a late mop-up touchdown when Burton hit Cutler Robertson on a 39-yard pass. The damage had been done.
Huntingdon had already been fitted for its crown.

"I can't say enough about these kids," said Mansfield. "They have worked so hard all year. They deserve this."

Elrod was 7-24 for 215 passing with six interceptions. Robertson caught three passes for 67 yards. Burton also was the Lipscomb rushing leader with 11 caries for 36 yards.

Geans had three carries for 59 yards and Donald had 12 carries for 49 yards.

Scott Hampton had four tackles and an interception. Kenneth Porter had a pick, as did Newsome, Parish, Weathers and Andrew Maddox.

Ryan Blankenship was tops for Lipscomb with 15 total tackles.
Huntingdon wins its state title with a 14-1 record while Lipscomb falls from the ranks of the unbeaten with a 14-1 mark. It was the fourth time this year (after Week 3) that Huntingdon topped an unbeaten team and the third time in the playoffs.

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