By JIM STEELE
mckenzierebels.com

Last week at Jackson-Liberty, McKenzie football coach Wade Comer wasn't displeased with how his football team played, but thought it could have been better, especially on defense.

One could sense consternation in Comer's demeanor.

Friday night, after the Rebels' varsity dispatched the visiting McNairy Central Bobcats 4-2 in scrimmage action, Comer's mood was considerably more upbeat.

There were two reasons for optimism after Friday's scrimmage. First, the defense came to play. There were a few gaffes, but not as many as last week and the action was more physical. Second, the Rebels were lacking depth in the line and not helped by injuries to Corey Ellis and Stephen Davis and an unspecified ailment slowing Tyler Reeder. Yet the replacements did the job. In all, the Rebels showed marked improvement.

"We were a lot better defensively," said Comer. "There were things we had to concentrate on this week in practice and it showed."

Kyle Kirk picked off a pass and almost returned it for a score. Junior Tyler Watson scooped up a fumble and raced to the end zone for his second score of the day. Meanwhile, the Rebels pressured the Bobcat quarterbacks, stripped McNairy runners of the ball and pressed the issue in the secondary.

Offensively, the Rebels kept it closer to the vest with some of the younger linemen, but Comer said he thinks the trench players are getting it.

"Our young kids stepped up," said the coach. "We knew we had to find some linemen when we started and we were shorthanded coming into today anyway. Some of those young kids may have missed their blocking assignments, but they were still blocking someone; it may not have been the right man, but they had people blocked."

Rebel running backs were more physical and the aerial game, when implemented, was solid. Senior receiver Rusty Chapman had three big circus catches, one for a touchdown, and returning all-state quarterback Derek Carr was on the money for much of the afternoon. Watson scored the first TD for McKenzie, followed by senior Tyler Moore's 1-yard burst to tie the contest at 2-2. Chapman caught a 19-yard TD pass and then Watson sprinted 35 yards on a fumble recovery for a score. Jake Johnson recovered a fumble and had a big 25 yard burst to put the Rebels in scoring position.

"Our running backs were more physical and that's what we've been preaching," Comer said. "I don't think we were as physical as we needed to be last week and we were this week, especially Tyler Moore. He really stepped up."

Last week, the Rebels would make two or three good plays and then give up a big play.

"This week, we'd give up a big play, then go two or three series making big plays and that was good to see," Comer said.

When the Rebels threw the ball, they made big plays, especially Chapman.

"Chapman caught the ball well, Shabree Payne caught the ball well," Comer said. "We didn't throw it as much because of our new offensive linemen. But they did well and Derek Carr threw the ball well. And he showed some of his mobility today."

Comer hopes his team moves the ball consistently again in the Crockett scrimmage next Friday night at Alamo.

"We still have a long way to go, but we have a good starting point and things are starting to pay off."