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By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com |
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McKenzie Rebels will make their eighth straight trip to
the playoffs after an impressive win over the Chester
County Eagles Friday. The Rebels dominated the air,
ground, clock and scoreboard during the contest at Rebel
Stadium. Senior Randy Lacey set a new school reception
record with 15 in Friday's game.
McKenzie improved to an overall record of 5-3, and 2-2
in Region 6, 2A competition. Next year the Rebels will
move to the smaller 1A level, based on an average daily
membership of 366 students at McKenzie High School. The
move, valid for the years 2005-2009, will place McKenzie
in the same classification as area schools of Gleason,
West Carroll, and Hollow Rock-Bruceton.
Terry Bateman, quarterback for the 1973 team, which had
a regular season record of 9-1, and wife, Jill, were in
attendance at the game. The 2004 Rebel football program
features Bateman.
The Eagles had trouble defending the precision arm of
quarterback Drew Hayes, who commanded the show from the
shotgun position as he targeted receivers Randy Lacey,
Clint Anderson, Glenn Smith, Julian Tucker, Cody Cook,
and Bryson Lewis. Hayes completed 23 of 42 passes for
242 yards and no interceptions. He is approaching 2,000
yards passing this season with approximately 1,976 yards
to his credit. Cook had 171 yards rushing and the team
had 22 first downs, compared to the Eagles' four.
In the second quarter, the Eagles briefly held a
one-point lead, which lasted just 54 seconds before the
Rebels answered with a six-play, 75-yard advance. In
that series, Hayes launched two passes to Lacey and one
to Anderson, which skipped off his hands to land in
Lacey's and the score. Hayes added two on the conversion
on a keeper advancing the score 14-7. Chester County was
again overwhelmed as their attempt to move from
mid-field was terminated with a fumble recovery by the
Rebels. In one last possession before the half, the
Rebels advanced 26 yards on two passes to Lacey to set
up an unsuccessful 34-yard field goal attempt by John
Kermit Laughery.
Dominance was evident in the third quarter when the
Rebels maintained possession all but 23 seconds. After
accepting an Eagle kickoff, the Rebels moved nine yards
from their own 32 to the 40 when it seemed the
possession was over. A fake punt provided Cook the
opportunity to finesse four yards and a first down to
keep the possession alive. Sixteen plays and six first
downs later, the Rebels found pay dirt on a Cook
touchdown and a Laughery point after to advance the
score to 21-7. Pass receptions were credited to Smith,
Lacey, and Tucker with Cook and Lewis adding rushing
yardage.
The Eagles only needed 23 seconds in the third quarter
to score on a 66-yard run and a PAT to make the score
21-14 with 2.07 remaining in the third quarter.
The Rebels again advanced down the field after the
Eagles' kickoff. Four first downs credited to eight
carries by Cook and passes to Lacey and Lewis landed the
Rebels at the Eagles' 25 yard line on a fourth and eight
situation. A field goal attempt was unsuccessful giving
the Eagles the ball. After struggling on the two downs,
the Eagles took to the air and found defender Lacey for
an interception and a Rebel possession. Hayes made quick
use of the possession with throws to Anderson and Lacey
to move the ball into field goal range. Laughery obliged
by booting a 36 yard field goal with 3:05 remaining in
the contest. The Eagles were three and out as the Rebel
defense aggressively backed the Eagles into a fourth and
28 at their own seven yard line. With only 47.4 seconds
remaining. Hayes took a knee on two snaps to end the
contest at a score of 24-14.
Scoring -Rebels -1st Quarter, Rebels 6; 2nd Quarter - 8;
3rd Quarter - 7; 4th Quarter 3. Chester County - 1st
Quarter 0; 2nd Quarter -7; 3rd Quarter -7; 4th Quarter
-0.
The Rebels play Martin Westview in a non-region match at
Rebel Stadium this Friday. This will be senior night for
the eight football players, one manager, two
cheerleaders, and six band members.
