Rebels rebound by destroying Starkville Academy
After losing to Starkville Academy 39-7 in week three, Leake Academy got a second chance at the Volunteers in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs last week.
The Rebels got their revenge as they pounded Starkville 41-7 on Friday night.
Leake improves to 4-6 on the season and will travel to Copiah Academy on Friday night for a second-round contest.
In the first game, the Rebels threw five interceptions but had zero turnovers the second time around. Veteran coach Brian Pickens saw his Rebels have one of their best games of the season and get a few breaks go their way.
“I thought we played one of our better games of the season,” Pickens said. “I told the team to go out and just have fun and I thought they did that. We were able to get the early lead and played lights out on defense. I thought we did a good job up front on both sides. I thought our defensive line got after them and we were able to put some pressure on their quarterback. It was a great team effort and I’m proud of the way we played.”
The game was scoreless in the first quarter. Leake got on the board first midway through the second quarter as the Rebels went 80 yards in eight plays. Welch finished off the drive on a 28-yard run with 6:55 left in the quarter. Matthew Nowell kicked the PAT and Leake led 7-0.
Leake got a big break on Starkville’s next series when the punter took a knee on a low snap, giving the Rebels the ball at the Volunteer 23. Eight plays later, Welch hit Jake Brown on a 5-yard touchdown pass with 1:18 left in the half. Nowell hit the PAT and the Rebels led 14-0 at the half.
Leake got the ball to start the second half and put together a time-consuming drive. A roughing the punter call helped extend the drive and the Rebels capped off the 14-play drive as Welch hit Rhett Atkinson on a 20-yard pass with 4:29 left in the third. The PAT failed and Leake led 20-0.
Special teams helped the Rebels again late in the third when the Rebels stopped a fake punt for an 11-yard loss. Welch then scored on the next play, going 34 yards for a touchdown. Nowell hit the PAT and Leake led 27-0.
Starkville’s only points came on the next drive as they went 63 yards in 13 plays and scored on a 9-yard run with 6:50 left in the game. The PAT was good and Leake led 27-7.
Leake responded with another punishing drive. After recovering an onside kick, Leake went 51 yards in six plays as Welch scored his third TD on a 2-yard run with 3:22 left in the game. Nowell’s PAT was good and Leake led 34-7.
On the ensuing kick, Bryce Watkins forced a fumble and returned it 21 yards for a touchdown. Nowell’s PAT was good and Leake led 41-7 for the final margin.
Welch led the offense with 189 yards on 24 carries with three TDs. Bryce Watkins had 33 yards on five carries while Jake Brown had 25 yards on seven carries.
On defense, Camden Marble led the Rebels with 8.5 tackles while Watkins had 7.5 tackles. Aiden Watkins had 5.5 tackles while Jarod Sims had five tackles. Dylan Jones had 3.5 tackles while Charlie Brantley had three tackles. Bishop Hardin had 2.5 tackles while Lucas Thomas and Rhett Atkinson had two tackles.