JONESBOROUGH – The South Greene Rebels opened the 2024 campaign on the road against the Pioneers of David Crockett and they dropped a close one 20-13.
It was a game that saw the pioneers score 17 unanswered points after trailing 13-3 late in the second quarter.
Coach Shawn Jones said, “Discipline got us tonight. I thought we had that fixed that, and that’s something I’m going have to fix. We were tired. The bad thing is they kept trying to give it to us…I mean they have a good ball team, but they tried to give it to us and we couldn’t take advantage of it. We move the ball and move the ball and have penalty or somebody misses a block. That’s the frustrating part. We’ll have to fix some things and get ready for Cumberland Gap.”
The Rebels took the opening kickoff and marched 69 yards for the season’s first touchdown. Nash Rader did most of the work on the drive including a 37-yard scamper to give the Rebels a first and goal at the Pioneer seven-yard line. After a couple of short gains by Rader the Rebs went to the well pulling off the old Statue of Liberty play. Quarterback Jacob Susong took the snap out of the pistol formation and looked as if he was going pass, but then handed the ball to Rader on the delay. Rader almost walked into the endzone for the score. Brant Wilhoit was called upon for the extra point and was perfect and the Rebs had the early lead 7-0 with 8:04 remaining in the first quarter.
The Pioneers looked like they were in mid-season form picking up two quick first downs, but the South Greene defense quickly shut the door and forced a punt. The Rebs were also unable to move the ball and punted back to the Pioneers.
A 17-yard run by Crockett’s Jon Hall combined with a facemask penalty on the Rebels followed by a 21 run by sophomore quarterback AJ Wynn had the pioneers in business at the Rebel 14-yard line. Once again, the South Green defense stood its ground, holding the Pioneers to a field goal attempt. Dawson Callahan came on for a 38 yarder that was right down the middle and the Pioneers were on the board at 1:04 mark of the first quarter and the score was 7-3 in favor of the Rebels of South Greene.
South Greene started the next drive at their 30-yard line and after a Rader short run Susong hit a wide-open Jeff Dotson on a slant route that went for 29 yards as the first quarter came to a close. Rader had a few more runs picking up another first down and the drive was finished off by Tripp Neas. Neas covered the final 22 yards for the score. A bad snap on the PAT kept the score at 13-3 with 9:13 to play in the half.
The Pioneers then went on nearly a seven-minute drive covering 75 yards on 12 plays with Zeke Slone taking it in from 16 yards out. Callahan’s extra point made the score 13-10 with just over two minutes remaining in the half.
The Rebels started the following drive at their own 38-yard line and looked to be on the move after a 16 yard run by Rader but a Susong pass was tipped and intercepted by Markis Carrier and the Pioneers had the ball near midfield with a minute and 35 seconds to work with.
Wynn hit Slone for 20 yards over the middle and two plays later for 11 more. Wynn then went for nine yards on a broken play and the Pioneers were in striking distance at the 14-yard line. Wynn the scrambled for another 10 then Wynn faked everyone in the stadium out and found Slone all alone in the endzone for the score, but that touchdown was negated by an illegal man down field and the Pioneers had to settle for another Callahan field goal. The 26-yard kick as time expired in the first half ttied the score at 13-13.
The Pioneers were on the move again as the second half started but Rader picked off a Wynn pass to end the threat. After the interception the Rebs looked to be inching into field goal range to take the lead, but a holding penalty and a sack took them out of Wilhoit’s range. The Rebels had to punt and Wilhoit nailed a beauty, a 42 yard coffin corner kick that rolled out of bounds at the two yard line.
Wynn’s quarterback sneak went for six yards to get his team out of the shadows of his own goalpost gave them some breathing room. A 37-yard run by Hall moved the ball out to mid field. After an offsides penalty Wynn went back to the air and found track star Lamarkus Dunn down field at about the 30-yard line. Dunn beat everyone to the endzone for the go-ahead score. Callahan was good with the PAT and the Pioneers had gone 98 yards in just over two minutes for their first lead at 20-13.
The Rebels were struggled to move the ball in the second half and could not find the tying score.
Rader finished the night with 154 yards on the ground and a touchdown to lead the Rebels.
