By JIM STEELE
mckenzierebels.com

There may have been a few concerns about the McKenzie Rebel football team prior to its Region 7A contest against visiting Lake County. The Rebels may have been subject to letdown. They may have done a bit of sleepwalking against an opponent that has had its struggles.

Lake County has some tradition. It has won two state titles (1980, 1985) and played for the Class A crown in 1994, bowing to South Pittsburg. The Falcons always have talent. This could have been a game at a dangerous time for McKenzie, especially with a Region 7A championship on the line.

But the Rebels cranked up the heat during cold, rainy practices last week and poured it on the hapless Falcons. McKenzie defeated Lake County 50-0 in a game that wasn't as close as the score. In so doing, they nailed down their second consecutive Region 7A title and assured themselves homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.

There was no letdown as the Rebels pounded Lake County in what may have been McKenzie's most physical game of the season.

"Last year, we mulled around and got sloppy," said McKenzie football coach Wade Comer. "Tonight, we came out and we were physical; we didn't see any sloppiness."

That may be because the Rebels didn't mope around because it was windy, cold and rainy at practice last week.

"We played well and the kids practiced hard," the coach said. "We stayed focused and had great intensity."

How dominant was McKenzie? Let us count the ways. The Rebels limited the Falcons to -12 yards on the ground. Lake County ran the ball 24 times but was stuffed for a lost on 14 of those plays. McKenzie led 22-0 after one quarter, 43-0 at the half and it could have been worse. McKenzie faced a fourth-down play from the LC 20, but misfired on a passing play in the red zone. Lake County lost three fumbles, all three leading directly to scores. McKenzie had 419 total yards, Lake County managed just 19.

This may have been one of the worst, if not the worst loss in Lake County history. Meanwhile, it was the fifth shutout of the year for the Rebel defense, tying a school record set in 1992 and 1999.

McKenzie senior running back Tyler Moore carried 13 times for 110 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead the Rebel ground attack. Senior receiver Rusty Chapman had four catches for 104 yards and two TDs. Senior quarterback Derek Carr was 9-15 passing for 195 yards and three scores.

"We threw the ball better than I think we had all year, especially in traffic," Comer said. "Derek looked a lot better and the receivers looked a lot better."

Defensively, Tyler Watson had seven stops, including two for loss. John Campbell had five tackles, two for loss and two fumble recoveries. Caleb Parham had six tackles with a sack and Austin Winstead have five tackles, three for loss.

It was a thorough dismantling of Lake County. And McKenzie let them know what was on store from its first drive. Lake County surged down to the MHS 4 when it failed to score. McKenzie took over, marched 96 yards in seven plays and took just 2:31 to do it. Carr mixed things up, hitting Shabree Payne for a 25-yard completion, then Chapman for another 29. Moore did the rest, scoring from the 14 with 6:52 to play in the first. Harris Laughrey hit the first of six extra-point kicks and MHS took an early 7-0 lead.

On the first play of Lake County's next possession, Clint Kee recovered a fumble caused by Jacob Fussell. Carr hitt Fussell for a 15-yard pass, then Moore carried it the rest of the way, scoring from the 5. The Rebels converted the swinging-gate pass play on the conversion and took a 15-0 lead. The Rebels needed just 21 seconds to score.

Lake County's largesse continued to brighten McKenzie's side of the scoreboard. Evan Rogers caused a fumble on Lake County's next possession and John Campbell covered it. On the next play, Kee was all alone for a 34-yard TD aerial from Carr. McKenzie's advantage had swelled to 22-0 after one.

The Rebels needed just two plays early in the second quarter to get on the board again. Fussell bolted 19 yards on the ground, setting up Carr's 47-yard air assault to Chapman for the score. MHS led 29-0 with 9:02 to play in the second. It took a while for the next MHS score. The Rebs had to canvass 59 yards in six plays, ending in a 1-yard plunge from Carr with 2:34 to play. MHS led 36-0 and notice was served that the clock would run in the second half.

But MHS wasn't through. Fussell blocked a punt and Campbell recovered it on the Lake Co. 11. Two plays later, Carr hit Chapman for an 11-yard TD pass with 1:10 to play. The drive took :21 seconds and the Rebels held a 43-0 lead at the half.

The Rebels embarked on a six-play, 61-yard drive to start the second half. With the clock running continuously, it took four minutes and Quinton Bowden scored on a 20-yard run. The Rebels were up 50-0 and the understudies got some work...and did well.

"The young kids are doing it too, they are playing well," Comer said. "When they get an opportunity to play, they play well."

Jarvis Bogans had six carries for 25 yards to lead the Falcons, most of which coming on a 29-yard run on the first Falcon drive. Quarterback Seth Henson was 5-10 passing for 31 yards and no picks.

The Rebels improve to 8-1 on the year, 6-0 in the region and will travel to South Fulton Friday night for the season finale. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m., Nov. 2 The Falcons, 5-4, 3-3, travel to Greenfield's Harris Field for a 7:30 start in their finale on Nov. 2. That game will have pivotal Region 7A playoff implications.