Rebels kick their way to prep football finals

By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Nov. 29, 2003
FOREST Ivan Garcia's field goal with seven seconds left wasn't one of those towering, majestic kicks that kickers and fans love to watch soar through the air.
However, Garcia's 27-yard, line-drive kick Friday night was plenty pretty enough to the Rebels and their faithful fans as it punched Scott Central's ticket to the Class 1A state championship next Saturday with a 15-13 victory over Mize for the South State championship.
The Rebels, 12-1, will face Weir, 14-0, for the 1A state title at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson. The Lions held off Durant 14-13 in another small school thriller. Mize finished 11-3.
The Rebels started the game-winning drive from the 50-yard line with 2:43 remaining following a 22-yard punt. Nathaniel McKee picked up 16 yards on the first two plays with Jeremy Williams gaining 14 yards on the next two plays to put the Rebels in business at the Mize 20-yard line. Four plays later, Garcia booted the game-winner.
Mize completely dominated the first half, outgaining Scott Central 147-9 in total yards. The Bulldogs had 10 first downs on 35 offensive plays, while the Rebels were unable to pick up a single first down on just 10 plays from scrimmage.
The Bulldogs got the only touchdown of the first half on an 8-yard run by Lakendrick Easterling with 5:16 left in the second quarter.
Mize reached the Scott Central 19-yard line as the first half ended.
However, the Rebels were down only 7-0 with the cavalry waiting to see action in the second half.
McKee and Mario Anderson both had to sit out the first half after being ejected for fighting in last week's 26-0 win over Bogue Chitto.
The Bulldogs turned the ball over at their 28-yard line on their first offensive play of the second half and four plays later, MacHandy Bobbitt connected with McKee for an 18-yard touchdown pass with 7:48 left in the third period. Garcia's extra point sailed wide right, leaving Mize up 7-6.
The Rebels drove 74 yards on seven plays on their next possession to go up 12-7. McKee again got the touchdown on a 21-yard run with 1:04 left in the third period. McKee had three carries on the drive for 42 yards. Mitch Bradford had three carries for 20 yards. A two-point run was stopped short.
Mize came back to take a 13-12 lead on the final play of the third quarter as quarterback Tony Agee capped a four-play, 51-yard drive with a 1-yard keeper. A two-point bid failed due to offensive pass interference. Agee also had a 16-yard run on the drive with Justin Ducksworth picking up 19 yards on the following play.
The Rebels reached the Mize 31-yard line only to turn the ball over on downs with 4:54 remaining following two incompletions by Bobbitt.
Scott Central's defense forced Mize to go three-and-out to set the stage for Garcia' game-winning field goal.
Mize finished with 210 total yards to 203 for Scott Central. The Bulldogs lost 13 yards in the fourth quarter.