REBELS DOMINATED WOLVERINES IN SEASON OPENER

The Murray County Central Rebels opened the 2021 high school football season in Maynard this past Thursday night against the Wolverines of MACCRAY. The Rebels will have 3 new teams on the schedule this season one of which is the Wolverines who have a new head coach in Cole Christopher. The Rebels return some key seniors from last year’s team but many of the offensive skill positions have new starters like Abe Paulzine at quarterback and Jaden Deacon at runningback. The Rebels and the Wolverines probably felt more like fish this past week due to the rain but the Rebels would prove to be way too much for the Wolverines to handle.

The MCC Rebels dominated the Wolverines from the first whistle on but they did it first with defense. MCC blocked a punt on the 4th play of the game, they recovered a fumble on the Wolverines fifth play from scrimmage, and they recovered a second fumble on the third kickoff of the first quarter. Those types of big plays may happen over the course of an entire game not during the first quarter. MCC turned those big plays on defense into 22 straight points. Jaden Deacon scored three first quarter touchdowns of nine, seven, and six yards. He would also score on a two point conversion. Carter Benda would also score on a two point conversion. MCC had three touchdowns before the Wolverines had one first down. After one quarter the Rebels led 22-0.

The Rebels dominance continued in the second quarter as Deacon would run 56 yards for a touchdown putting the Rebels ahead 28-0 and for Deacon he was over 100 yards rushing in the first half. MCC would score again on a Paulzine three yard run to make it 34-0 in the first half. The Rebels defense kept pace not allowing the Wolverines to get first downs which didn’t allow MACCRAY to have prolonged possessions. Abe Paulzine would score on a 3 yard run to put the Rebels up 34-0 in the second quarter and that score would remain into the third quarter.

With the Rebels up big the second half focus was on ball control and keeping everyone healthy while getting younger players playing time. MCC would do both. The Rebels would get a 5th Deacon touchdown run in the 3rd quarter to put MCC up 40-0 and MCC would never look back. The Rebels would rotate in Christian Tentiger to get some carries and he would take advantage for 46 yards on the ground. MCC would fail to score in the final quarter and a half with many younger players on the field. MCC would get the win 40-0 holding MACCRAY to just 2 first downs in the game.

The Rebels defense allowed just 44 yards on 40 plays good for just 1 yard per play. The Rebels, because of the turnovers, ran 63 plays for 358 yards. MCC allowed just two first downs in the game which helped the Rebels crush the Wolverines. Jaden Deacon stood above the crowd for great plays. The junior tailback ran 28 times for 290 yards and 5 touchdowns and a two point conversion. Christian Tentiger ran 12 times for 46 yards and Abe Paulzine scored the other touchdown for the Rebels. MCC outgained the Wolverines 358 yards to 44 for the entire game. It was a good start for the Rebels. Next week they will host the Wabasso Rabbits.