Photo - Kassity Boor
From his first meeting as head coach, Will Cohen made his philosophy clear. He asked his team to live out G.R.I.T. — God, Respect, Integrity, and Toughness. On Friday night, the Rebels embodied that message in a hard-fought 32–28 road victory over Ballard Memorial.
The Rebels’ Double Wing offense set the tone early, chewing up both yardage and clock. Unofficially, Todd Central ran 17 plays for 94 yards in the opening quarter, while the Bombers managed just four plays for a net loss of 10. Cohen’s emphasis on time of possession showed as the Rebels held a commanding 10:52 to 1:08 edge.
After their first drive stalled on downs, the Rebels’ defense forced a quick three-and-out, capped by a Gabriel Markham sack for a 14-yard loss. Markham made his presence felt all night with multiple sacks and steady pressure on Ballard’s quarterbacks.
Todd Central’s second possession began at the Bomber 48. Seven plays later, Titus Rager, who unofficially rushed for 115 yards, powered in from seven yards for the game’s first score. The two-point try failed, but the Rebels led 6–0.
Another defensive stop gave the Rebels favorable field position. Four plays later, Rager struck again, this time from five yards out. Eli Morgan added the two-point conversion, and the lead grew to 14–0.
Ballard Memorial, struggling to find rhythm, turned to sophomore quarterback Jackson Sutton. On his first attempt, Sutton connected with Cayden Opell, who broke free for a 73-yard touchdown. The same duo added the conversion, cutting the deficit to 14–8 at halftime.
The Rebels wasted no time extending the lead in the third quarter. After a strong return set them up at the Bomber 31, Morgan capped a five-play drive with a one-yard touchdown run. The conversion failed, but the lead grew to 20–8.
The Bombers answered with Sutton’s legs. Two long runs, including a 20-yard touchdown, pulled Ballard back within 20–14. With the home crowd rallying behind them, momentum seemed to swing.
But Todd Central responded through the air. Morgan floated a perfectly placed 40-yard strike to Zikavion Martin, who had slipped behind the defense. Martin then added a 33-yard run to set up Morgan’s second touchdown of the night, a four-yard keeper. The conversion failed, but the Rebels pushed the lead to 26–14.
The game then became somewhat ragged due to a combination of fatigue, penalties, and turnovers.
A Bomber fumble gave Todd Central prime field position, but the Rebels failed to capitalize. Ballard took advantage, marching 77 yards before Sutton scored from three yards. With the conversion, the Rebels’ lead was trimmed to 26–22.
A 51-yard kickoff return by Jayden Carrington set the stage for one of the night’s most memorable plays. With Morgan shaken up, Martin took over at quarterback. On 4th and goal from the five, a bad snap forced him to scramble left, seemingly doomed for a major loss. Instead, he spun back across the field, followed his blockers, and covered nearly 30 yards of running for what went down as a five-yard touchdown. Though the conversion failed, the Rebels led 32–22.
Ballard refused to fold. A roughing-the-punter penalty kept a late drive alive, and Sutton found Luke Sullivan on a 23-yard screen to cut the margin to 32–28 with under four minutes remaining.
Todd Central tried to seal the game on the ground, but a fumble at the Bomber 44 gave Ballard one last chance. This time, however, the Rebels’ defense stood tall. Three penalties pushed the Bombers back, leaving them with a desperate 4th-and-25. Sutton’s final pass fell incomplete, and the Rebels ran out the clock on a gritty victory in Cohen’s debut.
Todd Central now turns its attention to the home opener on August 29, when Hopkins County Central visits for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff.
