By Joel Washburn washburn@mckenziebanner.com

Quarterback Drew hayes hands off to Cody Cook for a first quarter touchdown.

McKenzie Rebels (5-6) ended their season Friday after a fourth quarter jinx provided a lopsided victory for the Cheatham County Cubs. An early fourth quarter two-point Cubs advantage was parlayed into a 22-point victory for the middle Tennessee team after a 27-point run in the final quarter. Cheatham (8-3) advances in 2-A post-season play to meet Huntingdon (9-2) Friday at Paul Ward Stadium. Game time is 7:00 p.m.

The jinx could might have been foretold when the Cubs scored on the first play from scrimmage on a Chris Langley pass to Donny Thomas for six followed by a PAT for seven points within the first 13 seconds of the contest. The Rebels responded with a Drew Hayes pass to senior Randy Lacey, who moved the ball to the three before fumbling. The Cubs recovered as the ball rolled into the end zone and secured a safety with only 30 seconds elapsed on the clock.

McKenzie's seniors provided all touchdowns for the contest. Cody Cook had touchdowns in the first, second, and fourth quarters, and Clint Anderson added the final touchdown as time elapsed. Kicker John Kermit Laughery was 4-4 in PATs.


The Rebels added two scores in the fourth quarter - the first was in the first 17 seconds when quarterback Drew Hayes threw a nine-yard pass to senior running back Cody Cook for the score. A PAT by John Kermit Laughery brought the game within two points, 23-21. A second score came on a Hayes pass to senior Clint Anderson as the game clock expired. Laughery again added the PAT. What happened between those two Rebel scores was all about the Cubs.

In the Cubs first series in the fourth quarter, it appeared the home team would be four and out, offering the Rebels great field position. Things quickly turned to the Cubs' advantage when a fourth down punt was blocked by the Rebels and the Cubs picked up the loose ball and advanced it to the Rebel 24-yard line. Three plays later, the Cubs added six on a pass to Brandon Piper. Landon Jones then added two TDs and Brad Potts added the final TD to swamp the Rebels' hopes of victory.

Hayes threw 49 passes, connecting on 27 with one interception for a total of 306 yards. One Hayes touchdown pass to Glenn Smith was negated when the Rebels were penalized for holding. McKenzie had 19 first downs and rushed for 137 yards.

Cubs had 13 first downs, rushed for 284 yards, and passed 15 times for nine completions and 234 yards.

Playing their last high school game were seniors Mark Ghyers, Jon Harris, Tyler Moore, Cody Cook, Justin Gilbert, Shawn Luna, Ben Boyd, Paul Edwards, Randy Lacey, and Clint Anderson.

McKenzie will move to 1-A competition for next season. The 2004 season marks the eighth consecutive year the Rebels have made playoff competition. In 2002, the Rebels advanced to semi-final action before being eliminated.

Scoring 1st - M 7, C 14, 2nd - M 7, C 3, 3rd - M 0, C 6, 4th M 14, C 27 Total - M 28, C 50.

By Pat Cole pcole@mckenziebanner.com

The Huntingdon Mustangs met the Loretta Mustangs in round one of the TSSAA playoffs last Friday night and at the end of the game had a 35-0 shutout of their Region 5-AA opponent.

Loretto got the first offensive opportunity, but was unable to move the ball beyond the 24 as Phillip “Boo” Weathers and Chris Donald led the defensive attack. The Stangs were equally unproductive as the Loretta defense moved in to capitalize on a first down 15-yard penalty on Huntingdon, who also punted after three downs. Although Loretta gained nine on their next series they again elected to punt after Desmond Townes, Marcus Beal, Jerry McClerkin and Donald moved in for significant tackles.

Huntingdon’s second series was more productive, but still did not lead to a score. Taking possession in Huntingdon territory, Donald moved for gains of six and a first down at the Loretta 45. Another run brought a first down at the 34. A motion penalty backed the ball up five yards, but Donald quickly negated that penalty and gained 10. He moved left for four and quarterback Cody Crocker took the ball for a first down at the 21. Donald picked up six and then as he moved inside the 10, the ball was stripped from his grasp and Loretto recovered and took over at the eight.

After gaining a first down, a second and ten pass was intercepted by Weathers at the Huntingdon four. A motion penalty moved the ball back to the two and then Weathers broke loose and ran 98 yards for a touchdown at the 17.8 mark of the first period. Unfortunately a block in the back penalty moved the ball back to the 33 where the Stangs were again on the march. Weathers picked up eight as the first quarter ended. On the first play of the second period, Crocker took the ball and passed to Townes for a first down at the Loretta 47. Weathers moved left for nine and a pair of motion penalties moved the ball back 10 yards. Crocker was held for a loss of two and then a pass to Weathers was incomplete. The Stangs Drew Kelley punted the ball to the Loretta 14 where they took over.

Brandon Snyder held the gain to two and Brent Taylor stopped the Mustangs at the 40. A motion penalty on Loretta was followed by strong defensive effort from Donald, McClerkin, Beal, and after a five-yard loss caused by Donald, the punt went to Weathers on fourth and 10. He returned the ball to the Loretta seven and on first play from scrimmage, into the end zone for the first score to count. At the 6:07 mark of the second period, Scott Hampton kicked the PAT good and the Stangs held a 7-0 advantage.

The next Loretto possession began at its own 25. After gaining a first down at the 39, Donald made one stop and a pass was intercepted by J.P. Powell and returned to the Stangs 37. Donald picked up five and a pass to Brandon McCormick was good for a first down at the 14. Donald gained three, Townes four and Donald moved into the end zone at the 1:59 mark. Hampton kicked another PAT to give Huntingdon a 14-0 lead.

The Mustangs were able to control the ball until the 2.5 mark as Hunter Hastings, Snyder, Maurice Williams and Weathers led the defensive effort. Weathers almost intercepted one pass and McClerkin intercepted a second to end the half.

During intermission, the Huntingdon Marching Mustangs entertained an enthusiastic hometown crowd.

Trailing by two touchdowns, Loretto attempted an onsides kick which went to Jason Norman at the 49. Once again the Stangs were on the move. After a motion penalty, Donald gained two and Weathers moved left for 11 and then right to the Loretto 37. Donald was able to gain six while Crocker’s pass to Cody Baker was good for a gain of three. Crocker picked up the first down at the 17. Weathers was held for no gain and then for a loss of one. A pass was intercepted by Loretto’s Mark Lamm, but two plays later, the ball was fumbled and Cale Belew recovered for Huntingdon. At the 5:56 mark, a pass to Townes brought a gain of five. Weathers moved up the middle to the seven for the first down. Donald then gained three before entering the end zone at the 4:15 mark. Hampton made it three in a row on the PAT and Huntingdon now led 21-0.

The kick was received and stopped at the Loretto 28. Hastings, Belew, Kelley, Weathers, and McClerkin held the gains to small numbers and two first downs. Beal then came in to sack quarterback Chris Beckman for a loss of 14 yards. Donald, Hastings, and Belew allowed a single yard and facing fourth and 23, Huntingdon received the punt.

After a short series, to end the third period and begin the fourth, the Stangs punted to Loretto at its own 38. Kegan Ball, Weathers, Hastings, and McClerkin led the attack and on a third down pass attempt, Weathers was there to intercept for the Stangs. The ball was returned to the Loretto 38. After an incomplete pass, Weathers took the ball and ran the distance for the fourth TD of the night. Hampton’s kick was wide to the right, but a penalty on the Mustangs for roughing the kicker moved the ball inside the three and Crocker ran it in for the two-point conversion and a 29-0 lead at the 8:39 mark of the final quarter.

Huntingdon’s defense continued a strong effort as Beal, Aaron Williams, Snyder, Donald and Hastings held to a gain of eight on three downs. With nothing to lose, Beckman held on fourth and two and picked up a first down at the 45. Ball, Snyder and Weathers held the gain to five on three downs and Beckman was sacked by Beal as the Stangs took over at their own 43 with 4:43 remaining in the game.

Donald moved up the middle for four, Townes for nine and a first down. Donald moved for one and a pass to Townes was good for a first down at the 20. Donald gained seven, Ball moved to the 11 and Noles ran for six. With the ball at the five-yard line, Ball took it into the end zone and the Stangs had their final score of the night. Hampton’s kick was wide right, but Huntingdon had a 35-0 lead with only 37 seconds remaining to play.

Loretto gained nine yards in the remaining seconds to end the contest.

This Friday night, the Stangs will host Cheatham County’s Cubs, who defeated the McKenzie Rebels in a game which was much closer than the final score indicated. The Mustangs will need a strong fan base to face the Cubs who come in with an 8-3 record. Their losses have been to Creek Wood High School in week three and Sycamore and Fairview in weeks nine and ten. Their regional victory over Loretto was 32-31 in week seven.

By Pat Cole pcole@mckenziebanner.com

West Carroll’s War Eagles had a commanding win over the Perry County Vikings in round one of the TSSAA playoffs this past Friday night at War Eagle Stadium. The first meeting between the two teams was a close match, 38-30, in week five. However this past Friday, the War Eagles again scored 38 while holding the Vikings to a mere 13.

The game began with the Vikings winning the toss and deferring the offensive possession to begin the second half and still scored first. After the War Eagles returned the ball to their own 35, they gained only nine yards, but elected to go for the first down when a measurement showed they needed only inches. A strong defensive effort by Perry County not only had Kevin Gentile possibly injured, but the Vikings taking over possession on downs. Gentile walked off the field and returned to action a short time later, but Perry County had excellent field position.

Quarterback Warren Bates passed the ball to Billy Duncan for a first down at the War Eagle 35 with Jeremiah Johnson on the tackle. A first down pass was incomplete and with Johnson defending, the second down pass was also incomplete. On third down, a pass to Duncan brought a gain of seven as Tony Wyatt and Dustin Seay defended. Facing fourth and three at the War Eagle 29, the Vikings took a time-out and then Brett Hoffman swept left, leaped over several defenders and found the end zone at the 8:17 mark. The PAT by Colby Bates was wide left, but the Vikings held a 6-0 advantage.

Once again the Vikings defenders held the War Eagles. After Chancy DePriest returned the ball to the War Eagle 37, Gentile took the ball for a gain of four. A pass from quarterback Chris Cannon fell incomplete and on third and six, DePreist ran the reverse for only one yard. Facing fourth and five, DePriest punted the ball to Hoffman, who returned the ball to the Viking 35.

This time things were a bit different for the Vikings as the War Eagle defenders held. An illegal substitution penalty on the Vikings moved the ball back to the 30. An incomplete pass was followed by Brandon Carter sacking Bates for a loss of 10. Facing third and 25, Bates again moved back to pass and it was incomplete. Brendan Nydam moved back to punt the ball which was blocked by Carter and the ball rolled out of the end zone for a War Eagle safety. At the 5:33 mark, Perry County led 6-2.

The War Eagles received the free kick which went to Karl Erwin and ran the ball back, but a block in the back penalty returned the ball to the War Eagle 42. Gentile ran for no gain and then he picked up six. Gentile ran again for a yard and the Eagles elected to go for the first down. A measurement showed the War Eagles were again inches short and the ball was turned over on downs.

Perry County took over at its own 48 and Erwin held for a loss of three. A pass was broken up by Johnson and a third down pass was intercepted by Ethan Thompson who returned the ball to the War Eagle 48. Thompson ran for four yards while Gentile broke loose for 19 and a first down. DePriest moved for four and with the ball at the Viking 24, DePriest moved for a touchdown at the :41 mark. Gentile took the ball into the end zone for the two-point conversion and West Carroll had a 10-6 lead.

Erwin and Bradley Coleman held the advance to a minus four as the first quarter ended. Joe Gentile held Nydam to a gain of six and Thompson hit Nydam after a pass completion for a loss of one. Johnson received the punt and returned the ball to the War Eagle 41.

The War Eagles were now in gear offensively. Gentile picked up a first down at the Perry County 17 and then ran out of bounds at the three. Needing only three yards, Thompson took the ball into the end zone at the 9:54 mark and Gentile got a second two-point conversion as the War Eagles extended their lead to 18-6.

Perry County received the ball at the 17 and began their next series. A pass was good for five before Erwin made the tackle. Thompson and Erwin combined to hold the gain to one yard. A pass to Jonathan Niece was good for a first down at the 31. Kenny Brewer sacked Bates for a loss of nine and Erwin sacked him for a loss of six. After a timeout, the Vikings tried another pass which was incomplete and punted to Johnson who made a good run, but the ball was called back on another illegal block in the back.

On first down, a face mask penalty was declined. DePriest picked up a first down at the Viking 41 on a reverse play. Gentile gained a yard, followed by four and four more. With the ball at the Viking 33 and the War Eagles needing a yard, Gentile ran off tackle and blasted through the line for the touchdown at the 3:07 mark. Gentile scored his third two-point conversions and the War Eagles now led 26-6.

DePriest kicked the ball to Hoffman who returned it to the 26. Carter and Troy Simmons held the advance to a mere three yards and after a timeout, Bates threw the ball incomplete. Facing fourth and seven, the Vikings punted the ball to the War Eagle 35 where it rolled dead.

DePriest made his way to the 50 for the first down and Cannon connected with Erwin for eight more yards. A lateral pass to DePriest was complete and then fumbled and rolled out of bounds. Facing third and 12, West Carroll took a timeout and with a second remaining on the clock, Cannon was intercepted by Devin Wood. A holding penalty on the War Eagles led to another play. Bates’ pass was incomplete and the half ended.

The Marching War Eagles performed their competitive show to an enthusiastic crowd during intermission.

The second half began with DePriest kicking the ball to Brant Clifton. Cannon made the tackle at the Viking 37.

Wyatt, Coleman, and K. Gentile held the Vikings to only four yards, but on fourth and six, the War Eagles were penalized for motion and facing only a yard, Bates moved the ball for a gain of three and first down. Cody Cunningham, Erwin, Jason Lott and DePriest held the advance to only a yard and the Vikings punted to Johnson who signaled for a fair catch.

Thompson picked up four while Gentile picked up two. After a sweep right, the War Eagles were penalized for holding and facing fourth and four at the 30. DePriest punted to Hoffman, who fumbled and recovered for the Vikings at the 28.

Lott sacked Bates for a loss of eight and two passes fell incomplete as the Vikings punted the ball to the Perry County 48.

A nine-play drive led to another score as Thompson, Gentile and DePriest moved the ball down the field. With the ball at the three, Cannon passed to Thompson in the end zone at the :44 mark and West Carroll elected to go for the PAT kick which was wide right. West Carroll now led 32-6.

The Vikings held possession the final seconds of the third period with Wade Holladay holding to no gain, an incomplete pass and DePriest bringing down Billy Duncan after he caught a pass for a gain of six. As the fourth period began, Bates dropped back to pass and was soundly sacked by Simmons for a loss of nine. Facing fourth and nine, the Vikings punted the ball to Johnson who returned it to the Viking 16.

DePriest ran for nine yards and then Gentile ran off tackle into the end zone for the score. The PAT was wide right and West Carroll now led 38-6 at the 10:17 mark.

With a good lead, the War Eagles continued to apply defensive pressure as Seay, Lott and Brewer led the attack. After gaining a first down on a slant pass, the Vikings faced determined defenders Simmons, J. Gentile, Brewer, Johnson, Thompson and Lott, but continued to inch their way down the field. Finally with the ball at the War Eagle one-yard line, Clifton ran the ball into the end zone untouched and Chris Reed kicked the PAT as the Vikings narrowed the margin to 38-13 at the 5:22 mark.

At the 1:57 mark, the Vikings attempted a 52-yard field goal, which was short and West Carroll took over for five plays to end the game.

This Friday night, the War Eagles will host Jackson Christian School in another rematch. The first game of the season, the War Eagles fought hard at Eagle Stadium in Jackson, but ultimately fell to mistakes and a loss of concentration. The War Eagles have not lost a game since then and the Eagles have a single 6-0 overtime loss to USJ in week 10. The game should be a good one for fans of both schools. Game time will be 7:00 p.m. at War Eagle Stadium.

2004 Sports Archives:

01-07-04 01-14-04 01-21-04 01-28-04 02-04-04 02-11-04 02-18-04 02-25-04 03-03-04 03-10-04 03-17-04

03-24-04 03-31-04 04-07-04 04-14-04 04-21-04 04-28-04 05-05-04 05-12-04 05-19-04 05-26-04 06-02-04

06-09-04 06-16-04 06-23-04 06-30-04 07-07-04 07-14-04 07-21-04 07-28-04 08-04-04 08-11-04 08-18-04

08-25-04 09-01-04 09-08-04 09-15-04 09-22-04 09-29-04 10-06-04 10-13-04 10-20-04 10-27-04 11-03-04

11-10-04 11-17-04 11-24-04 12-01-04 12-08-04 12-15-04 12-22-04 12-29-04

2003 Sports Archives:

01-01-03 01-08-03 01-15-03 01-22-03 01-29-03 02-05-03 02-12-03 02-19-03 02-26-03 03-05-03 03-12-03

03-19-03 03-26-03 04-02-03 04-09-03 04-16-03 04-23-03 04-30-03 05-07-03 05-14-03 05-21-03 05-28-03

06-04-03 06-11-03 06-18-03 06-25-03 07-02-03 07-09-03 07-16-03 07-23-03 07-30-03 08-06-03 08-13-03

08-20-03 08-27-03 09-03-03 09-10-03 09-17-03 09-24-03 10-01-03 10-08-03 10-15-03 10-22-03 10-29-03

11-05-03 11-12-03 11-19-03 11-26-03 12-03-03 12-10-03 12-17-03 12-24-03 12-31-03

2002 Sports Archives:

01-02-02 01-09-02 01-16-02 01-23-02 01-30-02 02-06-02 02-13-02 02-20-02 02-27-02 03-06-02 03-13-02

03-20-02 03-27-02 04-03-02 04-10-02 04-17-02 04-24-02 05-01-02 05-08-02 05-15-02 05-22-02 05-29-02

06-05-02 06-12-02 06-19-02 06-26-02 07-03-02 07-10-02 07-17-02 07-24-02 07-31-02 08-07-02 08-14-02

08-21-02 08-28-02 09-04-02 09-11-02 09-18-02 09-25-02 10-02-02 10-09-02 10-16-02 10-23-02 10-30-02

11-06-02 11-13-02 11-20-02 11-27-02 12-04-02 12-11-02 12-18-02 12-25-02

2001 Sports Archives:

06-06-01 06-13-01 06-20-01 06-27-01 07-04-01 07-11-01

07-18-01 07-25-01 08-01-01 08-08-01 08-15-01 08-22-01

08-29-01 09-05-01 09-12-01 09-19-01 09-26-01 10-03-01

10-10-01 10-17-01 10-24-01 10-31-01 11-07-01 11-14-01

11-21-01 11-28-01 12-05-01 12-12-01 12-19-01 12-26-01