Rogers falls to top-ranked Rebels
Posted on Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Rogers gave the state's topranked team too many gifts Friday night.
Fort Smith Southside recovered five turnovers on the way to a 27-13 win in the 7 A-West Conference opener for both teams on Sept. 26.
"We got a couple of turnovers and we did something with them," Southside coach Jeff Williams said. "A lot of times you get turnovers and you don't do anything with them and it just kind of kills momentum."
The Rebels (4-0, 1-0 ) didn't waste the turnovers, scoring on senior linebacker Chris Marsh's interception return and after a Rogers fumble and turnover on downs in Southside territory.
It all added up to a 27-0 halftime lead.
Rogers senior Michael Tibbs fumbled on a fourth-and-4 rush attempt at the Southside 32 on the Mounties'opening drive and linebacker Richard Kirksey recovered it for Southside.
The Rebels scored less than three minutes later as senior running back Daniel McGee picked up 47 yards on eight carries before receiver T. J. Young scored on a 23-yard reverse.
McGee continued to grind it out, picking up the majority of the next two drives on the ground as Southside added to its score.
He had three carries for 22 yards - including a 10-yard score - on a drive aided by two long passes from Trent Welbern to Quai Anderson.
Chase Dixon caught a 44-yard pass from Welbern in the middle of the next drive - set up by Southside's defensive stop - and McGee scored three plays later on a 2-yard run for a 27-0 lead with 1: 01 left in the first half.
McGee finished the game with 162 yards on 27 carries.
In between McGee's two scores, Marsh stepped in front of Tibbs'first pass attempt - the second play in the Mountie's Moonshine formation - and returned it 25 yards for a 21-0 lead.
"I thought was a big turning point in the game (because ) now their down three scores," Williams said.
While the Rebels scored on three grinding drives and the interception, the Mounties saw several drives stall in Southside territory.
Rogers (2-2, 0-1 ) couldn't shake the trend in the second half, losing the ball two more times to kill potential scoring drives.
"Coming back the second half with our defense holding them a little bit, we just missed opportunities," Rogers coach Ronnie Peacock said.
The Mounties got on the board quickly after halftime and held Southside to four punts and two fumbles in the second half.
Tibbs, who was at quarterback for most of the second half, went 4 of 5 passing for 28 yards and added 33 rushing yards on the scoring drive. He hit Justin Reed for an 8-yard score with 6: 42 left in the third quarter.
Taylor Reamer led the Mountie defense to back-to-back sacks on the next drive to force a Southside punt and Tibbs hooked up with Reed for a 35-yard gain, but Reed fumbled at the Rebels 25.
Another interception - this time by Southside's Chase Henderson - ended another drive in Rebel territory.
The Mounties added a late touchdown after a high snap sailed over Welbern's head. Junior quarterback Andy Couture, who went 12 of 20 for 155 yards, snuck in for a 3-yard score with 45 seconds left in the game.
Tibbs completed 7 of 13 passes for 79 yards and rushed for 88 yards.
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