With three starters not available for the game after being ejected in last week’s loss to Trigg County, Friday night’s game at Todd County Central figured to be a big challenge for the Fort Campbell Falcons. Turns out the Rebels were more than happy to oblige the Falcons in that challenged, as they picked up the 51-27 win in Elkton.
The Falcons won the toss and deferred getting the ball until the second half. Turned out that was all the advantage the Rebels would need to get things going. Todd Central took the opening drive, overcoming two holding calls that negated two long runs. They capped off the 57 yard drive with an 11 yard run by Bryce Nolan on a quarterback bootleg to give the Rebels a 6-0 lead with 7:42 left in the quarter. Fort Campbell aided the Rebels with three offsides penalties on the drive.
After the Falcons went backwards on their opening possession, the Rebels took over after a short punt on the Falcons 18 yard line. The Rebels’ JaTwan Graham ran it in from 13 yards out to push the lead to 14-0, after the two point converson, with 4:54 to go in the quarter. The quarter would end with the Rebels holding that two touchdown lead.
The Falcons got on the board for the first time on night early in the 2nd quarter. On 4th and 2 from the six yard line Ethan Tomerlin headed for the end zone, but lost the ball as he stretched out for the goal line. The ball was recovered in the end zone by KeShawn Daniels to cut the lead to 14-7 with 10:03 in the half.
The Rebels responded quickly driving the ball right down the field. Bryce Nolan connected with DJ Johnson for a 50 yard touchdown pass to push the lead out to 22-7 with 7:51 left in the half. Todd Central found paydirt again in the final minute of the half when Graham scored from five yards out to make it 29-7 with 42.1 seconds in the half.
The size and physicality of the Rebels began to exert itself as the second half got underway.
Todd Central found the end zone again with 6:41 to go in the 3rd quarter. This time is was a two yard run from Jonathan Flores to extend the Todd Central lead to 36-7. The Rebels scored again with 3:21 to go when Bryce Nolan ran a quarterback draw for his second TD of the night. The extra point made it 43-7, and started the running clock with 3:21 to go in the third
The Falcons put together a bit of a rally in the 4th quarter. Ethan Tomerlin scored on a 30-yard run in the opening minute of the final quarter. Minutes later Greysen Meyer recovered a fumble and ran it all the way back to cut the lead to 43-21 with under ten minutes to go in the game. After a Rebel fumble, Ethan Tomerlin scored from a yard out to cut the lead to 43-27 with 4:05 to go.
Things got very interesting in the next few moments. The Falcons recovered an onside kick, and suddenly the impossible was looking possible. However on the very next play, the Falcons fumbled and JaTwan Graham returned it 42 yards for a score to finally seal the win and put the Rebels up 51-27 with 3:47 to go. The Rebels then recovered an onside kick of their own and ran out the clock for the win.
JaTwan Graham had a huge night for Todd County Central, finishing with 201 yards on 18 carries, two rushing touchdowns and a defensive touchdown. Ethan Tomerlin had a big night for the Falcons, picking up 100 yards on 11 carries and rushing for two touchdowns. In total offense, the Rebels outgained the Falcons 397 to 140.
With the win, the Rebels improve to 2-0 on the season officially, the Fort Knox game could ultimately be declared a forfeit in the Rebels favor. The Falcons fall to 0-3.