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By Fred Guarino
The Lowndes Signal
The Lowndes Academy Rebels honored their injured teammate, Trevor Johnson (29), Friday night by winning their football game over Sumter by the margin of victory Johnson predicted, 50-8, in Hayneville.

Johnson’s number was painted on the football field, and the Rebels played the game for him, said Lowndes Academy head football coach Bob Taylor.
 Taylor confirmed Johnson predicted a seven touchdown victory (42 points), which turned out to be the actual margin of victory.

Also of note was the fact that the Rebels led Sumter 29 -0 at one point, which also reflected Johnson’s jersey number.

Lowndes Academy Headmaster Darrell Self said Johnson is still hospitalized at UAB, but is improving daily. He was critically injured in a vehicle accident on Aug. 18 that also resulted to injury to three other Lowndes Academy Rebels including Zig Cannon, Wesley Barber and Christian Barkley.

According to Hayneville Police, a delivery vehicle ran a stop sign and struck the vehicle that was carrying the football players.
 Self said all but Johnson are now back at school.

Friday’s game with Sumter was the home opener for the Rebels after their home game with Macon-East was cancelled following the accident that injured the four football players.

Taylor said the game with Macon-East will not be made up.

“It was just a great overall effort from our guys, ” Taylor said of his Rebels’ performance, “just for them to be able to come out and play after everything we’ve kind of been through. They were playing for Trevor… that’s all it was. They came out and did everything we wanted them to do. I can’t ask for any better effort than I saw tonight.”

The Rebels came out with intensity on both sides of the ball. And Cole Crook got things going when he returned a blocked punt by Daniel Callaway 25 yards for a touchdown at the 8:32 mark of the first quarter.

Brandon Reid scampered in for the 2-point conversion and the Rebels led 8-0.

The Rebels struck again when Jon Johnson hit John Taylor on a 53-yard pass for a touchdown to put Lowndes Academy up 14-0 at the 5:03 mark of the first quarter.

Reid would later ding the Eagles of Sumter on 4-yard touchdown run with about 18 second left in the first quarter. He would also catch a 2-point conversion pass from Brian Rayburn to make it 22-0 Rebels .

But a 30-yard pass from Johnson to Ryan Davis got the crowd buzzing after Taylor booted the point after to make it 29-0 at the 8:25 mark of the second quarter.

Reid would score the final touchdown of the half on a 36-yard run. Taylor added the point after, and the Rebels led 36-0 with 1:16 left before intermission.

Callaway would recover a fumble by the Eagles. And Johnson would run 30-yards for the score at the 7:44 mark of the third quarter. Taylor’s point after would put the Rebels up 43-0.

Sumter would finally light the scoreboard with 2:09 left in the third on what turned out to be a 62-yard pass play and a 2-point conversion to make it a 43-8 ballgame.

But any spirit lift by the Eagles fell flat when Reid ripped a 95-yard kickoff return, and Taylor added the point after at the 1:56 mark of the third period to make the final 50-8 in favor of the Rebels.

Johnson went 4-7 passing for 114 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 125 yards and one touchdown.

Reid carried 10 times for 88 yards and two touchdowns, which included a 95-yard kickoff return under special teams play.

John Morgan carried four times for 56 yards.

Taylor had one 53-yard reception for a touchdown and added four points after touchdowns.

The Rebels will play host this Friday night to Coosa Valley Academy from Harpersville.

In other Lowndes County football action Friday night:

Calhoun fell at home to Keith 56-8.

Joe Lewis scored for the Tigers on a kick return.

Central lost on the road at Bullock County 44-14.

Keegan Blackman scored on a quarterback sneak set up by a 40-yard run by Malek Hill, and Jaquez Bolling scored on a 2-yard run.

Calhoun will travel to face Goshen Friday night while Central will travel to face Zion Chapel.