The Todd County Central football team continued its perfect start to the season, delivering a landslide 54-6 homecoming win on a night that began with the crowning of a new homecoming queen, stalled with the absence of referees, and ended with the halftime whistle.
The Rebels encountered little resistance from the winless Fulton City Bulldogs on a night that attracted a large, enthusiastic Todd County crowd. The only thing that threatened to dampen the mood was the hour delay spent waiting for the referees to appear, although the Rebel band and student section more than did their part to maintain mood; playing, dancing, and cheering the entire time.
Todd County kicked off to start the game, and the Bulldogs promptly went backwards and punted. The Rebels took over on their own 42, and were on the board shortly as junior Asa Young scored on a 49 yard touchdown run. Senior Nick Tutor ran in the 2 point conversion for a 8-0 Rebel lead.
Fulton City returned the ensuing kickoff out to their 20, and would pick up a first down on a Todd County offside penalty. However, they couldn’t move the ball any further and found themselves in 4th and 7 from their own 38. Surprisingly, the Bulldogs would line up and go for it, turning the ball over on downs after an incomplete pass. Todd County took over in great field position, but fumbled on first down and Fulton City recovered. The possession wouldn’t last long, as on 3rd and 8 from their own 42, Bulldog sophomore quarterback Cameron Madding completed a screen pass to sophomore KeAndre Patton, but he was stripped by junior Sydney Johnson and Todd County took over on the Fulton City 43. Young ripped off a big run down to the Bulldog 6 and Tutor punched it in from there. Sophomore JaTwan Graham got in for the 2 point conversion and it was 16-0 with just over 5 minutes left in the first quarter.
After a touchback, the Bulldogs would pick up a first down on a pass completion, but would find themselves 4th and 11 with less than 2 minutes remaining and would have to punt. The Rebels gave them a 2nd chance with a roughing the kicker penalty allowing them to retain possession, but they would eventually be forced to punt anyway.
The Bulldogs opened the second quarter with a punt, and senior Isaiah Fingers took it back 70 yards for another Rebel touchdown, with Young adding the 2 point conversion. Now down 24-0, Fulton City would go 3 and out and leave the Rebels great field position at the Bulldog 48. Junior running back Jaquavion Mimms wasted no time taking it 48 yards for the touchdown, stretching the lead to 32-0 after sophomore Bryce Nolan ran in the 2 point conversion.
With the Bulldogs seemingly out on their feet, Cameron Madding stunned the crowd by finding a hole and taking the kick off 80 yards for Fulton City’s only points of the night. An unsuccessful 2 point conversion attempt left the score at 32-6.
Not to be outdone, and to crush any belief the Bulldogs might be able to muster, Jaquavion Mimms took the ensuing kickoff 60 yards to restore the Rebels 32 point lead, although Tutor was stuffed on the 2 point attempt. Fulton City went 3 and out and punted, once again leaving Todd County with good field position around midfield. The Rebels would continue their ground assault, they wouldn’t attempt a pass all night, with big runs from Young, Nolan, and Sydney Johnson, with Nolan finishing the drive with a 14 yard touchdown run. Mimms added the 2 point conversion for a 46-6 lead.
A quick 3 and out and punt from the Bulldogs again gave the Rebels the ball around midfield. Two big Isaiah Fingers runs would have the Rebels in the end zone again. Todd County kept its foot on the gas, faking the PAT and adding another 2 point conversion on a completion from Young. With just over a minute left until halftime, Fulton City took the kick off out to their own 35, and in a fitting end, fumbled on first down as the half ended.
As time to begin the second half neared, word came that Fulton City would be unable to continue due to injuries to an already thin roster, awarding an abbreviated, but nonetheless satisfying homecoming night victory for the Rebels. Next week promises a much tougher test, as the Rebels will look to continue their perfect start when they go on the road to face 2-2 Hancock County.
