From the
Upper Deck
Bar Still High
For Rebels
By Jim Steele
steele@mckenziebanner.com |
| |
|
 |
HOHENWALD - For two years, Lewis County had the taste
of revenge on its lips. After all, for the past two
seasons, the Panthers were relegated to basketball
preparation, courtesy of the McKenzie Rebels.I'm not sure that Oklahoma, clad in Rebel uniforms,
could have handled Lewis County on Friday night. The
Panthers earned a measure of redemption after a 24-7
victory over visiting McKenzie.
It's not that the Rebels didn't want it that night, it's
just that Lewis County wanted it more. Revenge is a
pretty intoxicating potabale.
Besides, the Panthers had more breaks than a Super Bowl
broadcast.
The silver-lining department at McKenzie doesn't have to
work too hard to find positives in this season. These
Rebels never really got it all together, yet won nine
games this year. People in West Tennessee are starting
to respect McKenzie as a legitimate football power. MHS
had a winning season for the seventh straight year.
Post-season slippers fit comfortably on the Rebels.
If there is anything good in a season-ending loss, it's
that people are disappointed that the Rebels only made
it to the second round. That shows just how far the
Rebels have come. There are expectations for big things
in the Rebel camp, which will bode well.
Consider that the Rebels set records this year. Consider
that the Rebels had a good enough team to beat any 2A
team on their schedule...if they played.
Sadly, the Rebels only managed to put together one
complete game and that was at Camden. That's football.
That's also sports psychology. Tennessee football coach
Phillip Fulmer once told me that he'd be (even more of)
a millionaire if he could master sports psychology and
bottle it.
McKenzie says good-bye to 11 seniors - 10 players and a
manager - who will be sorely missed. But the Rebels will
field a good team next year. Record setting quarterback
Drew Hayes, record-setting running back Cody Cook and
record-setting receiver Randy Lacey will be back. Go-to
receiver Clint Anderson will have a bigger leadership
role next season. Paul Edwards, at 6-6 and 275 lbs., has
potential to be a force.
McKenzie has the ingredients. There is potential for
some younger players to step up and be counted. A lot of
positions will be up for grabs. The Rebels were one of
the best-conditioned teams around, but they will
definitely need to develop more depth.
The work starts today. The bar hasn't lowered at all.
As for this year's team, again, these Rebels have
brought a lot of excitement to this community, beginning
with the JCS scrimmage and ending with the Lewis County
game...more than they realize.
Last week, I thought improvement was imminent. As I've
been for much of the season, I was wrong. An 8-5 mark
for the week isn't too hot. That put me at 202 of 262
for the year, 77.1 percent.
Here's to this week's games:
Huntingdon over Lewis Co.: The Panthers' good feeling
lasts only a week; I'm not sure they know what awaits
them.
Tennessee over Vanderbilt: The Commodores' good feeling
lasts only a week as well.
Elsewhere, I see:
Melrose over JCM, Trinity over Fayette Academy, Milan
over Carver, Covington over Brighton and Crockett Co.
over Greenbrier. |
