By JIM STEELE
Consider that the Rebels have a lot of new feet filling some awfully big shoes.
Consider that even the most battle-tested McKenzie players are learning a new offensive scheme
Consider that a few key components for next year's team were on the shelf because of illness and injury.
The McKenzie Rebels didn't look too bad in the spring's first scrimmage against visiting Crockett County Friday afternoon. The spring sneak peak was held at Bethel College's Wildcat Stadium.
McKenzie and Crockett County dueled to a 2-2 tie between the varsity units. The Rebel JV team outpaced the Cavaliers second team 2-1.
When you contrast the effort from last year's scrimmage with Camden (the Rebels lost 9-1), one can safely conclude that the Rebels have gotten better. They got better during the pre-season, knocking off McNairy Central, Crockett County and Lexington, all 3A schools. The learning curve improved through 15 games of the football season. So has the Rebels' singularity of purpose and desire.
Even players who made plays were not satisfied and expressed a need to get better. McKenzie football coach Wade Comer's demeanor was rather upbeat with the way his team peformed. Given the fact that McKenzie is learning some new schemes on both sides of the ball and playing against a pretty quick 3A Cavalier team, Comer even conceded that there were some aspects of McKenzie's performance that were better than expected.
Were there a few missed tackles? Yeah, plenty by both teams. Were there missed blocks? Probably more than any coach would want. But this is February, not October. The good thing is that these Rebels will get better.
Defensively, the Rebels were physical, but maybe not as physical as they are going to be. In many cases, it seemed McKenzie made nice-looking plays going three-quarters speed. Again, it was a spring scrimmage, not a quarterfinal November playoff game. Evan Rogers often made things look easy coming off the edge. He was in on three sacks and had chances at a couple of more.
The Rebels did move the ball on the ground very well and that was without expected starting running back Jake Johnson, who was held out because he was sick. If you expect McKenzie to sling it around the yard 20 to 30 times a game this fall, don't come to the games. The Rebels have the chops to move it on the ground and move it well.
It seems Jacob Fussell has picked up where he left off last year, a punishing runner (and tackler). He had several big gains to go with a score. Quinton Bowden is getting a look at running back and took to it like a fish to water. When Bowden got in the open field, he was hard to catch. Austin Taylor shook off a bit of rust for some big gains in the JV scrimmage, but did show promise.
Quarterbacks Austin McKinney and Max Arnold didn't throw it much, but they didn't have to. MHS may have thrown the ball a half dozen times just to show that the veritcal game is in the inventory. Things will be different, but that doesn't mean McKenzie can't unleash the nukes in its arsenal when it has to. Given the marksmen MCKenzie has had at quarterback lo these past six years, Comer has made himself one of the best pass-offense coaches in the state...and this from a coach who said he loves to run the football.
It's hard to project how the Rebels will do in the fall based on one scrimmage. The landscape has changed. Union City, South Fulton and Huntingdon have new coaches. Gleason is improved. Greenfield and Lake County will likely be better. But McKenzie will be right there, too. The Rebels looked pretty good for a first spring scrimmage. Considering what the Rebels have lost, what they have to deal with and what shoes they have to fill, I'd say McKenzie is off to a pretty good start.