REBELS HOMECOMING FOOTBALL GAME AGAINST TMB ENDS IN DEFEAT

The MCC Rebels took on the TMB Panthers last Friday night for homecoming 2023. After a week of fun and different events, the game would pit two rivals against one another. The two teams have faced off against one another in big games over the past couple of years but Friday it was homecoming and the Rebels were hoping to turn excitement into a big win. That unfortunately didn’t happen as the Panthers would run and throw all over the Rebels on their way to another win. MCC put together a great defensive first quarter forcing a pair of turnovers and a short field after a punt but the Rebels failed to score. After the first twelve minutes, the two teams were tied entering the second quarter 0-0. That is when things changed. With 10:22 to play in the first half, Trevor Smith threw a perfect pass down the Panther sideline where it was caught by Jeret Ankrum for a 73-yard touchdown catch. The Ankrum extra point made the score 7-0. Nine seconds later the Panthers would score on a MCC fumble as Alex Shuh would pick up the fumble and run it into the endzone for another score and the kick made it 14-0. The route was on and the Panthers would score three more first-half touchdowns. With the Panthers already up 28-0 Teague Meyer would try to make a play late in the first half but his pass attempt was intercepted by Eathan Martinez and the senior lineman playing in his first game of the year returned the INT nearly 60 yards for a touchdown making the halftime score 53 to 0.

The Panthers wouldn’t stop scoring in the third as TMB would run the ball strong and throw the ball all over the field. Jerent Ankrum would catch 3 more touchdowns in the third quarter bringing his game total to 5 scores. Alex Shuh would add a touchdown run. The Rebels didn’t have any answers as the big lead allowed the Panthers to put on pressure all game long. The Panthers would dominate the game to a 69-0 final score.

It was the largest Rebel shutout in recent memory. MCC didn’t have an answer for Ankrum and allowed two turnovers to be returned for scores which just can’t happen. The Rebels’ lack of points in the first quarter went a long way in the final outcome of this game as the Rebels seemed to lose confidence after the empty trips. The Panthers would hold the Rebels under 100 yards in total offense. The Rebels will travel to Tyler to take on the RTR Knights for the first time in years on Friday night. MCC needs a win in their final two weeks to have a 500 record.