Rebels Upset Hancock County to Improve Playoff Outlook

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Playing for their playoff lives on the field where their season ended a year ago, the Todd County Central Rebels battled back from a two-touchdown hole to upset Hancock County 20-14 on Friday night in Hawesville.

The Rebels were blown out 36-0 by the Hornets in the first round of the playoffs last season, and it looked like things were going south again when Hancock built a 14-0 advantage early in the 2nd quarter.

The Hornets converted on 4th down to extend their opening drive and found the endzone on a 1-yard plunge by Logan Willis with 6:08 left in the quarter.

Hancock County doubled the advantage early in the 2nd quarter, with Kaleb Keown hauling in a 15-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Drew Lyday.  After failing on the 2-point attempt after their first score, the Hornets were successful on the second try and led 14-0 with ten minutes left in the half.

The Rebels responded with a drive into Hancock territory, but Nate Reding was ruled to have fumbled after an 11-yard completion and the Hornets recovered.  However, Omarion Riddick got the ball back for the Rebels when he dove on a Hancock fumble near midfield with 3:46 left.

With time ticking down until the break, quarterback Gavyn Nolan completed passes of 18 and 15 yards to set the Rebels up at the Hancock 22-yard line.  But on 2nd down, Nolan’s pass was intercepted at the 7 by the Hornets’ Austin Volocko.

Pinned in their own end and looking to run out the clock, the Hornets handed off on 1st down and once again put the ball on the ground.  Riddick was in the right spot for the second time, picking it up off a bounce and going untouched into the endzone.  The PAT attempt was no good and Todd Central trailed 14-6 at the break.

The Rebels received the ball to start the 2nd half and on the first play from scrimmage, Nolan found Reding for a 24-yard completion down to the Hancock 46.  Nolan hooked up with Preston Moore to cap the drive with a 16-yard touchdown, but the 2-point attempt failed and the Rebels still trailed by two.

Todd Central forced the decisive turnover with eight minutes left to play, with Reding coming up with a fumble recovery to give the Rebels the ball at the Hancock 43.

Orrin Scott rushed for 19 yards on 3rd and 1 and a facemask penalty moved the ball to the 14-yard line.  Facing 3rd and 10, Nolan hit Reding across the middle to give the Rebels their first lead with 5:16 on the clock.  With a successful 2-point conversion, Todd Central led 20-14.

With enough time for a final drive, Hancock reached the Todd Central 38 on a 32-yard pass from Lyday to Keown.  Looking for Keown again on 1st and 10 from the 30, Lyday instead saw his pass intercepted by Reding, capping a monster night for him on both sides of the ball.

Many of the Hancock County fans were already headed for the parking lot as Riddick rushed for a pair of 1st downs to run out the clock and change the trajectory of the Rebels’ season.

Todd Central wins its second-straight district contest to improve to 4-5 overall.  The Rebels entered the night in danger of missing the playoffs with a loss, but now look set for the 2nd seed and a first-round home game.

Hancock County is also 2-2 in district play, with the Rebels holding the head-to-head tiebreaker, and has lost three of five after starting the season with four straight victories.

 

 

 

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