By JIM STEELE
mckenzierebels.com

When John Campbell played at Jackson-North Side, the Indians had a pretty good rivarly with Jackson Central-Merry and occasionally South Side.

Friday night, he said rivalry went to the next level. He experienced his first taste of the McKenzie-Huntingdon battle.

"I'd been hearing about this all week," said Campbell. "Everybody was telling me about it. But what they were saying can't compare to how it actually was."

Campbell said he'd heard the stories, the history and was amazed at how full the stadium was. Rebel Field was teeming with fans in the bleachers and spectators were five-deep around the fence.

"You could tell everybody was pumped up," he said. "We knew we were going to be in a fight on every play."

Now that it's over, how does Campbell feel about McKenzie's 28-19 victory?

"It was the funnest game I ever played in," he said with a big grin.

MOORE INJURED: McKenzie senior Tyler Moore appeared to headed for a touchdown with just under three minutes to play in the Rebels' game with Huntingdon Friday night. He made his way to the three where he was hit low and flipped. He landed on the top of his head and lost the football.

Huntingdon's Taylor Simpson scooped it up and returned it the distance for a score while Moore remained on the turf. Teammate and classmate Shabree Payne was the first to see how he was. Then Sportsworks trainer Ty Butler came out to check on him, followed by head coach Wade Comer, MHS principal Terry Howell and the ambulance crew from McKenzie Regional Hospital.

As he was taken off the field, he gave the crowd a big thumbs up. He was taken to McKenzie Regional Hospital for precautionary measures.

"He was moving and talking," said Payne. "He wasn't happy but he was moving his arms and legs. He just said his neck hurt."

Payne wasn't surprised that Moore seemed to be okay, but was surprised he didn't get up.

"Tyler's real tough," said Payne. "He was already playing through a leg injury."

"It just wasn't the same without Moore," said Kee. "We wanted to go out there and win it for him."

BIG HOUSE: As has been mentioned, both sides of Rebel Field were packed and fans ringing the stadium fence row were stacked five deep for Friday night's game with Huntingdon.

The crowd was so intense that cars lined Tennessee Street to the west of Rebel Field. Vehicles were parked as far south as Magnolia on Bailey Street and some say they parked near Calvary Tabernacle Church on Stonewall.

"We didn't take out any parking," said Comer, alluding to the new stadium renovation. "In fact we added to it.'

Part of the old MHS tennis courts fencing were removed to provide for more parking.

REEDER'S BIG HIT: Before the game, MHS senior linebacker Tyler Reeder made a promise to several Rebel fans that he intended to deliver a big hit and make a big play somewhere along the way in Friday night's game against Huntingdon.

Mission accomplished.

Reeder and Huntingdon tailback Matt Weathers collided while both were almost at full speed. Reeder won that battle as he deposited the Mustang speedster for a 3-yard loss.

"It just kind of happened," Reeder said. "We pinched on both ends and the tight end didn't block me and I came through at full speed."

Reeder was still giddy after the play almost 20 minutes after the game ended.

"That felt great," he said, shaking his head with a big grin. "It was a real intense game, but I love it. It was my type of game and it was time to step up because I won't see them again the rest of my life on the football field."

RUNNING WILD, AGAIN: For about five years, McKenzie has earned the reputation as a passing team. Drew Hayes threw for 9,292 yards in his three-and-a-half-year career. Carr was one of the state's leading passers last season, throwing for 2,263 yards and 24 TDs. Passing 60-70 times a game wasn't unusual.

Friday night against Huntingdon, the Rebels ran it 52 times of a total of 73 snaps, piling up 239 yards.

"The running game was solid," said Carr. "We were running about 10 yards a play and you can't do anything about that."

"Our running game showed up again tonight," said Payne. "That's two weeks in a row that our running game and line has stepped up."

Jake Johnson carried 15 times for 72 yards and a pair of TDs, Jacob Fussell had nine carries for 71 yards and Tyler Moore had 18 carries for 56 yards before he left the game.

"Every down, we don't have to pass it, but we don't have to run it either," said Clint Kee, senior receiver. "We can do whatever we want."

UP NEXT: McKenzie will face a Gleason team that will enter Rebel Field with a 3-2 mark. The Bulldogs just beat Middleton 46-0 Friday night as they play at the Rebels' homecoming.

McKenzie, 4-1, 2-0 in Region 7A play, will begin pre-game ceremonies at 7 p.m. Kickoff is 7:30.