By JIM STEELE
mckenzierebels.com

The name "Tyler Reeder" and the words "receiver's hands" don't often show up in the same sentence, if they ever have.

But Friday night in the second quarter of McKenzie's second-round state-playoff game Reeder was in the right place at the right time. He was in the Viking backfield, giving chase to their quarterback Davis Cocke. The play was headed left, but Cocke reversed himself and threw back to the right...right into the waiting hands of senior Rebel defender Reeder. He collected the football and then looked it in his hands almost in disbelief.

Once he was sure he had it and that it was indeed thrown to him, he raced 25 yards to the end zone for his first career TD. Reeder had a fumble recovery and an 11-yard return at Union City last year, but didn't score. This Friday, he did.

"It was one of my best high school moments," said Reeder. "Really, it surprised me. I had to stope and make sure I caught it before I ran. I didn't want to get chewed out for dropping the ball."

Reeder said he anticipated the play, but never thought it would come right to him.

"I knew it was coming to my side and I thought they'd throw it over my head," Reeder said. "But he threw it right too me."

Once he crossed the end zone, he smacked the football and broke out in a big smile.

"Reeder reminded me of a DB (defensive back)," said senior Shabree Payne. "He dropped back in coverage."

Payne said this wasn't something the Rebels had worked on.

"We haven't practiced that," said Payne. "He just did it and it gave us momentum."

"Reeder caught it like a receiver," said senior tailback Tyler Moore.

CAMPBELL NOT SO SHORTHANDED: McKenzie senior linebacker John Campbell broke his hand on the first play of Monday's practice. Wednesday, he was sporting a cast. Campbell was cleared to play but had to wear something that looked like a cross between a sponge and a bowling ball on the end of his left hand.

Campbell said playing with the broken hand was an adjustment, but he got through it fine, gathering nine tackles on the night.

"It was different," he said. "I had it covered up so it was hard to drag people down with that hand. I had to get a really good hit then grab them with one arm.

"I could wrap up with both hands, but I could only grab with one," he said.

Campbell even had a chance for an interception in the final frame, instead settling to break up the pass with the big club hand.

"I could have had an interception," he said. "But they didn't complete the pass, so I did my job."

PARHAM IN THE ZONE: McKenzie senior lineman Caleb Parham perhaps played the best game of his career. He had six tackles, two for loss, a sack and a QB hurry.

"I was pumped up and ready to go," Parham said. "Fayette Academy was pretty good."

BUILDING CONFIDENCE: The Rebels hadn't really been tested in many weeks, so Friday night's game had many pivotal implications. Fayette Academy was a talented and athletic which executed well. THe Rebels faced some adversity, turned the ball over and gave up a big play or two. McKenzie managed the game well and handled the bumps without problem.

And it had been five years since the Rebels had ventured past the second round. Three of the past four seasons, McKenzie had been beaten in the second round.

"We haven't been past the second round since I've been in high school," said Reeder. "Now we're over the hump."

"We haven't been to the third round since 2002 and now that we're over that hill, we can't do anything but get better," said senior lineman Elijah Harris. "I think this will give us a lot more confidence."

"Fayette Academy was by far the best competition we've had in a long time," said Rebel senior Josh Rhoads. "THeir defnesive line showed us what we are going to get from now on."

"This gives us a lot of confidence because we beat a good team," Campbell said. "We went out in the second round last year, but now we can look forward to next week and get back to work."

"Now we have to come out next week, work hard in practice," said senior quarterback Derek Carr. "Then we have to come out and put it on TCA."

UP NEXT: The Rebels will face Trinity Christian Academy out of Jackson. TCA is the Region 8A champion and sports at 10-2 record. The Lions beat Union City 42-0 in the first round of the playoffs and will venture to McKenzie thanks to their 28-14 win over Hollow Rock-Bruceton this past Friday. McKenzie defeated Bruceton 35-0 in Week 2 and Union City 42-39 in Week 4. Those are the only two common opponents the teams share. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Rebel Field. The winner hosts either Jo Byrns or Mt. Pleasant in the Class A semifinals.