Rebels Rout Lions, 44-7

McKENZIE (August 29) — The McKenzie High School Rebels bounced back in a big way from a season-opening loss with a dominant win over Dresden, 44-7.

A defensive touchdown got McKenzie on the board early, but Dresden scored on their second possession. From there, the Rebels scored on six consecutive possessions for the lopsided victory.

McKenzie won the toss and deferred possession.

The teams traded punts, with Rebel Cole Brown booting one 57 yards to pin the Lions deep at their own 6. On third down, a Dresden fumble was recovered by Rebel Aiden Legens, who dove into the end zone for a touchdown. Aiden Mason kicked the PAT, and McKenzie led 7-0 with 7:10 to play in the first frame.

Dresden would punt again, but McKenzie fumbled early in the drive, with Lion Jacoby Sutton making the recovery at the Rebel 31.

The Lions quickly faced fourth-and-long, but McKenzie was flagged for pass interference and Dresden got a fresh set of downs. Quarterback Bruce Willis kept for a 16-yard touchdown, and the PAT by Vladimir Hammer Pederson tied the score at 7-7 with 3:08 to play in the opening quarter.

McKenzie took the lead for good with a six play, 63-yard drive capped by a 40-yard pass from C. Brown to Avery Brown. Mason kicked, and the Rebels led 14-7 at the end of the first quarter.

Dresden started the second frame with a quick three-and-out. A. Brown made a good return on the punt to the Lion 38.

C. Brown took the first snap 27 yards, and, two plays later, he threw to Kason Brown for an 11-yard touchdown. The Mason PAT gave McKenzie a 21-7 lead with 8:30 to play in the first half.

After another quick Dresden three-and-out, Rebel Jacobi Melton made a ten-yard punt return to set McKenzie up near midfield.

The Rebels went 52 yards on eight plays, the last a nine yard pass from C. Brown to Lelan Gordon. With Mason’s kick, McKenzie led 28-7 with three minutes to play in the second quarter.

The Lions put together a promising drive, including a 39-yard pass from Willis to Aiden Carrington, to get to the McKenzie 17 before Willis’ second pass attempt was intercepted by Rebel Cooper Davidson and returned to the Dresden 22.

With under a minute on the clock, McKenzie needed a fourth-down conversion to get a first-and-goal. A holding penalty negated a touchdown, but Mason kicked a field goal as time expired to give the Rebels a 31-7 halftime lead.

The Rebels received the second-half kick and went 57 yards on five carries by Timmy Arline and a one-yard keeper by C. Brown. Mason missed the kick, but McKenzie led 37-7 with 9:13 to play in the third quarter, triggering a running clock.

The Lions managed a pair of first downs, but the drive stalled near midfield.

McKenzie took over and exhausted the third quarter clock on three plays. The first play of the final frame was a 12-yard touchdown pass from C. Brown to A. Brown. Mason hit the point-after, and the Rebels led 44-7 early in the fourth.

Dresden went three-and-out, and McKenzie sent out its offensive reserves. The Rebels turned the ball over on downs, but used up enough clock to allow the Lions just two plays before time expired.

Team and player statistics were unavailable before The Banner's press deadline due to the holiday.

McKenzie hits the road this week for an out-of-state game at Christian County High School in Kentucky. Kickoff is 7 p.m.