Rebels win state title

By By Marty Stamper/EMG sports assistant
November 21, 2003
CLINTON Don't bet against the Heidelberg Academy Rebels in a state championship football game. They'll win. You'll lose.
For the third time in the last four years and the sixth time in school history, the Rebels won an Academy Class A state title by beating Trinity Episcopal Day School of Natchez 19-14 Thursday afternoon at Mississippi College's Robinson-Hale Stadium.
The teams combined for 613 total yards with the Rebels gaining 311.
With six titles to their credit, the Rebels moved past Strider Academy into first place for the most Class A state championships. Winston Academy, currently in Class A, also has six but three came in Class AA.
Heidelberg fell behind 7-0 in the first quarter when Ryan Rachal found Dudley Guice Jr. behind two Rebel defenders for a 44-yard touchdown pass with 6:16 left in the first quarter. Nason Stephens added the extra point.
Sixty seconds later, the Rebels pulled even when Matthew Andrews took a short pass over the middle from Brooks Lewis and turned it into a 42-yard score. Mason Key's PAT tied the game at 7-7.
Late in the first quarter, Ryan Aultman blocked a Saints' punt, but the Rebels were able to gain only two yards in four tries from the Trinity 30-yard line.
The Rebels took the lead with a seven-play, 80-yard drive late in the first half. The big play was a 51-yard pass from Lewis to Dusty Bass, who had gotten behind Guice, to the Trinity 16.
Lewis then found Will Thames deep in the end zone for a 13-yard score with 3:50 left in the second quarter. A low snap spoiled the PAT attempt as the Rebels led 13-7.
Neither team scored in the third period. Trinity had a 10-play drive that covered 24 yards, before giving the Rebels field position when Andrews blocked a Rachal punt at the Saints 38.
HA was unable to capitalize, however.
The Saints moved from their 20 to the HA 14 following a highly questionable defensive pass interference call on the Rebels. Heidelberg then tackled the Saints for losses on three straight plays before Bass picked off a Rachal pass at the 4 on fourth-and-20.
The Rebels put together an 11-play, 96-yard drive that put an exclamation mark on the championship season. Brent Welch had five carries on the drive for 66 yards.
Chris Kittrell scored the touchdown on a 3-yard run with 3:05 left. A two-point try failed, leaving the Rebels up 19-7.
Trinity closed to within 19-14 with 1:09 left when Guice caught a tipped pass by Rachal on fourth-and-18 and completed a 56-yard touchdown play.
Guice had five receptions for 121 yards and both Trinity touchdowns. Walt Ketchings gained 84 yards on 19 rushes.
Wesley Parker recovered the onside kick and the Rebels ran out the clock.
Welch finished with 90 yards on 14 carries. Parker had 69 yards on five rushes.
While Trinity had 302 total yards, Guice accounted for 100 on just two plays, despite being double covered.