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By Fred Guarino
The Lowndes Signal
With a nearly unstoppable air attack, the Lowndes Academy Rebels improved to 2-0 on the season with a 49-19 victory over non-region opponent Wilcox Academy at home, Friday night.
First year Lowndes Academy head football coach Bob Taylor had praise for both his quarterback Wade Howard and wide receiver David Hussey, but a host of Rebels were able to get in on the scoring.
“We saw some things early on film we could take advantage of and were really excited about it… several things we could do… and we were able to take advantage of those things,” Taylor said.
He said, “Wade (Howard) did a great job at quarterback for us and that’s what we wanted to have happen.” He also said of his standout wide receiver, “David (Hussey) played a great game. He’s going to give me everything he’s got every game. So, that’s always what we are looking for.”
The Rebels stunned the visiting Wildcats of Wilcox Academy early went Hussey took the opening kickoff all the way for a touchdown. And Howard hit Gray Johnson for the 2-point conversion pass to put Lowndes Academy up 8-0 just 15 seconds into the first quarter.
The Wildcats looked as if they might be able to contend, however, when they fought back to make it an 8-6 contest at the 7:30 mark of the first quarter. But the Rebels were just getting warmed up.
Howard would hit Brian Rayburn for about a 20-yard touchdown pass to put Lowndes Academy up 14-6 at the 6:25 mark if the first quarter.
A strong Rebels’ defense later forced the Wildcats to punt from near their own goal line. Hussey then recovered a blocked punt by Johnson for a touchdown to put the Rebels up 20-6. And John Taylor came on to boot the point after touchdown (PAT) good to put the Rebels up 21-6 at the 8:09 mark of the second quarter.
Things continued to go south for the Wildcats when Howard hit Rayburn with a touchdown pass with about 39 seconds left in the half to put the Rebels 27-6.
The Wildcats managed to score a touchdown for respectability to make it a 27-12 contest at the 10:21 mark of the third quarter. But any good feelings from that score did not last long.
Howard would come back with about a 62-yard touchdown pass play to Johnson. And PAT man Taylor would hit Hussey for the 2-point conversion to put the Rebels up 35-12 at the 9:57 mark of the third quarter.
And the body blows would keep coming against the Wildcats. Howard would connect with Hussey on about a 46-yard touchdown pass play and Taylor would add the PAT to put the Rebels up 42-12 with 5:47 left in the third period.
Dejavu from last week’s win over Jackson Academy, the Rebels’ Hussey picked up a Wildcat fumble and returned it about 70 yards for a score with 5:48 left in the game. Taylor’s PAT was good, and the Rebels led 49-12.
The Wildcats would manage a meaningless touchdown and extra point as the final seconds ticked off the clock to give the Rebels their second win in 2015 with a final score of 49-19.
Howard completed 13 of 16 passes for 290 yards and four touchdowns. Rayburn had five catches for 113 yards and two touchdowns. Hussey had six catches for 108 yards and one touchdown. Johnson had one catch for 62 yards and a touchdown. And of course, Hussey had the trifecta of a kickoff return, a fumble return and a blocked punt for three touchdowns.
In addition, Hussey had nine solo tackles and nine assists while Brandon Reid had five tackles and eight assists.
Before he walked off the field, Coach Taylor was already turning his attention to next Friday’s regional contest on the road at Patrician.
“We’ve got another region game next week,” he said. “We’ll enjoy it (the win over Wilcox) tonight and get ready to play again next week.”
The Rebels are 1-0 in Class A Region 2 play, 2-0 overall.