By JIM STEELE
mckenzierebels.com

ATWOOD - It would have been easy for McKenzie High School's football team to go through the motions here Friday night against a struggling West Carroll team.

The War Eagles entered their senior-night game with a 1-6 mark, 1-3 in Region 7A and have had their problems this season. The Rebels could have gone through the motions, played sloppy and limped to a regional victory. But the Rebels decided to raise the level at practice this week and the intensity showed as they hammered West Carroll 68-0.

It was the second largest margin of victory in McKenzie history. Only the Rebels 69-0 victory over Selmer in 1967 was larger. In addition, the Rebels took another step toward wrapping up the Region 7A championship. With Hollow Rock-Bruceton Central's 32-22 loss to Gleason and Union City's 21-14 victory over Greenfield, McKenzie sewed up at least homefield advantage in the opening round of the Class A playoffs and will clinch its second straight regional crown if it can knock off Lake County next week.

McKenzie coach Wade Comer said the key to McKenzie's intensity was its practice regimen. Not only did the Rebels prepare for West Carroll, they were working on reaching a higher plane.

"Our kids came out ready to play; we played with good emotion and intensity," the coach said. "We feel like we've learned a lesson from last year about not letting down and we're practicing for the next level."

Comer was referring to McKenzie's second-round losses each of the last two seasons because it played its last three or four games against teams with losing records in each of the last two seasons. Some have said that the soft schedule at the end of the season may have dulled McKenzie's edge.

McKenzie senior tailback Tyler Moore scored three touchdowns and carried 12 times for 100 yards. Senior quarterback Derek Carr completed 12 of 20 passes for 184 yards, a touchdown and an interception. In addition, the B-team scored three touchdowns in the second half.

"The B-team has gotten a lot better and have really worked hard and improved in practice," Comer said. "Tonight it showed. They are making themselves better and it just makes us better."

Comer was pleased with Moore's effort: "Moore ran a lot better and we've been on him all week. He read his blocks better, ran harder and the offensive line blocked better."

McKenzie's defense limited the War Eagles to 10 yards rushing and 42 total yards. The Rebels had more penalty yards (107) than did West Carroll's offense. Junior Jacob Fussell, making his first start at inside linebacker in the wake of Jake Johnson's ankle injury, was on a mission, leading the Rebels with six tackles, one for loss and a fumble recovery. Offensively, Fussell carried twice for 41 yards including a 33-yard TD run and he caught a pass for 7 yards.

"Fussell did well at inside linebacker with Jake banged up," Comer said. "We didn't want to take a chance on Jake making his ankle worse and Fussell had a great two weeks of practice and I am glad to see it."

McKenzie set the tempo for the third straight week and opened with the home run ball. After stopping West Carroll on its first series, the Rebels took over on the 12 after Avery Fuller's 38-yard punt. Carr went to work, hooking up with Rusty Chapman for a 46-yard completion. Seven plays later, Moore was in the end zone from the 9 with 3:35 to play. Harris Laughrey kicked the first of eight PATs, which may be an MHS record for most conversion kicks in a game, and the Rebels led 7-0. After a three-and-out by WC and a 13-yard punt, The Rebels were quickly back in the end zone again. Six plays and 47 yards later, Moore scored from the 7 and MHS led 14-0 after one.

With 8:20 to play in the second, the Rebel rampage continued as Moore scored from the 9, capping a four-play, 37-yard drive. MHS led 21-0. With 4:30 to play in the half, Fussell streaked 33 yards around the right side for the score. MHS failed to convert the run but led 27-0. After another three-and-out, McKenzie worked itself into a fourth-down situation. Carr took matters in his own hands and raced 21 yards for the score. McKenzie had padded its lead to 34 points.

McKenzie and West Carroll volleyed turnovers. The War Eagles fumbled and Fussell recovered. But Tyler Shaw picked off Carr to nullify McKenzie's takeaway. Three plays later, sophomore Keon Williams stepped in front of a pass, picked it off and raced 51 yards for a touchdown. However, in his exuberance, he spiked the ball and was flagged for a pair of unsportsmanlike conduct calls. Comer vigorously expressed his displeasure in the suspect call and was flagged another 15 yards. As a result, the Rebels were left to attempt what also is possibly the longest PAT in their history: 48 yards. McKenzie tried a screen pass, which was completed to senior Kyle Kirk, but he was downed long before reaching the goal line. MHS led 40-0 at the half.

The Rebs received the second-half kickoff and took the possession 62 yards in six plays. Carr found Clint Kee for a 20-yard TD pass. The Rebels led 47-0. From there, the younger players got into the act. With 3:35 to play and the clock running perpetually because of the TSSAA mercy rule, Quinton Bowden scored from the 3 to give the Rebels a 54-0 lead. The score was set up by Evan Rogers' fumble recovery.

In the fourth, Tyler Watson scooped up a fumble deep in West Carroll territory and three plays later, senior Travis Coleman scored from the 1. With 9:50 to play, the Rebels led 61-0. Just over five minutes later, McKenzie freshman Jace Hargrove carried four straight times for 45 yards, the last a 9-yard burst to the end zone, his first varsity TD. The Rebels had salted away a 68-0 victory.

The Rebels were 7-7 inside the red zone, the area inside the opposing 20, at West Carroll, much better than the 2-5 performance at Greenfield eight nights earlier.

"We concentrated hard on that," said Comer. "We had been sloppy at that lately, but we concentrated on getting better in the red zone this week."

Trent Gateley led the War Eagles in passing. He was 5-9 for 32 yards with an interception. Fuller had three catches for 15 yards while Tyler Shaw had two grabs for 17 yards. Cody Nelson was the leading ground gainer for WC with 11 carries for 6 yards. He had six returns for 111 yards.

McKenzie improves to 7-1 on the season and 5-0 in Region 7A play. Lake County travels to Rebel Field as the Rebels will wave goodbye to 13 senior players, two cheerleaders and one cameraman. Kickoff is 7:30 but pre-game ceremonies will begin shortly after 7 p.m.

Meanwhile, West Carroll, 1-7, 1-4, will visit War Memorial Stadium and the Union City Tornadoes.