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High School Football

McKenzie Wins Another Thriller in Obion County

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TROY (October 23) — A week after edging out a region win at Union City, the McKenzie High School Rebels returned to Obion County to face the OCCHS Rebels. This non-region contest played out much the same as McKenzie started out behind but gradually gained momentum and overtook Obion County. McKenzie took a two-score lead in the third and held off an Obion County rally for a 34-28 victory.
Obion County won the coin toss and elected to take the first possession.
The host Rebels received the opening kickoff and started deep at their own 16. A holding penalty and a run for a loss made it second-and-12, but Nick Chappell took it 86 yards for a touchdown. Obion County kicked the point-after and led 7-0 less than two minutes into the contest.
McKenzie started at the 45 after a short kick. Quarterback Jackson Cassidy threw incomplete, then Marquez Taylor ran for six. Cassidy kept for a first down, then he threw to Will Latimer, who made a diving catch in the end zone for a 40-yard touchdown. Zach Aird kicked the PAT, and the score was tied at 7-7 with 9:23 to play in the opening frame.
The Obion County Rebels started deep again but regained the lead with a six-play, 83-yard drive capped by a 67 yard run by Chappell. The PAT was good, and the home team had a 14-7 lead with six minutes to go in the first quarter.
McKenzie started at the far 30 with Caleb Gill running twice to move the chains. After an offensive penalty, Taylor was stopped for no gain. On second-and-29, Cassidy threw to Latimer for 34 yards. Then the QB connected with Zay Webber for a 45-yard touchdown. Aird’s PAT tied the game at 14-14 with 3:41 remaining in the first.
The McKenzie defense forced a quick fourth down, and Obion County failed to convert.
The visiting Rebels took over at the Obion County 28. Taylor ran for 16, then Rashad McCreary gained a yard. Gill followed with an eight-yard carry to end the quarter. He started the second with a three-yard touchdown. Aird hit the kick to give McKenzie a 21-14 lead.
Obion County responded with a 12-play, 76-yard scoring drive. On a third-and-long, quarterback Preston Correa threw to Ben Sharp for a 24-yard touchdown. A good kick knotted the score again at 21-21 with five minutes to play in the first half.
McKenzie earned one first down on the ensuing possession but were then forced to punt. Aird’s punt from the McKenzie 32 was downed at the Obion County 32.
The host Rebels went three-and-out, and the punt was downed at the 20.
McKenzie advanced the ball into Obion County territory but couldn’t score before time expired.
The visiting Rebels received the second-half kickoff, and Kaden Allen returned it to midfield. Taylor took the first snap 50 yards to paydirt. Aird kicked to give McKenzie a 28-21 advantage 20 seconds into the third quarter.

The McKenzie defense forced a three-and-out, and Obion County’s punt from the 7 went out of bounds at the 25.
Cassidy tossed to Taylor on first down for a touchdown. Aird’s kick was blocked, but McKenzie’s lead was up to 34-21 with 9:29 to play in the third.
Obion County went three-and-out, and the punt was downed at the McKenzie 44.
McKenzie’s drive was doomed by a first-down holding penalty, and Aird punted to the Obion County 49.
The host Rebels earned one first down but were forced to punt again.
The visitors took over at their 19 and earned two first downs before the quarter ended. Three plays into the final frame, McKenzie went for it on fourth-and-four at the Obion County 29, but Cassidy’s pass fell incomplete.
Obion County took over but quickly faced fourth-and-inches. A sneak by Correa earned a first down, then Chappell ran 58 yards for a touchdown. The PAT was good, and the deficit was cut to 34-28 with 8:27 to play in the contest.
McKenzie kept the ball on the ground and ran down the clock to under two minutes before turning the ball over on downs at the Obion County 12.
Correa threw incomplete, then threw an interception to Cassidy.
Cassidy took a knee twice, and time expired.
McKenzie outgained Obion County 376 yards to 351. The visiting Rebels had 211 yards on the ground and 184 in the air. The hosts had 308 yards rushing and 43 passing.
The McKenzie Rebels (7-2, 3-1) wrap the regular season Friday at region foe Adamsville. Kickoff is 7 p.m.
McKenzie is locked in at second in Region 7-2A behind Peabody. Adamsville and Union City (both 5-4, 2-2) will finish third and fourth depending on Friday’s results. Union City owns the tiebreaker.
All four Region 7-2A playoff teams will begin with a bye week as Region 8 did not play this year. In the second round, McKenzie will host a rematch with either Union City or Adamsville.