Head Coach Scott Booth and his low Flying Squadron hit the road this past Friday night seeking their first win on the young 2008 football season as they traveled into the unfriendly confines of Nix Webster Stadium in Reeltown, Ala. But they would see that opportunity go up in smoke as Coach Jackie O’Neal and his Rebel unit looked to prevent last year’s 56 – 14 thrashing they took at the hands of Highland Home. And, they did just that as the Reeltown’s high-powered wishbone attack grounded out 366 yards of rushing and 96 yards through the air as they thumped the Flying Squadron 41 – 18 in a key Class 2A Region 3 battle.

Things looked bright for the Squadron offensive 11 as they took the game opening kick-off and marched down to the Rebel 39 yard line in 7 plays. Facing a 4th and two, a bad snap from center put the play in disarray as they were unable to gain the needed yardage for a 1st down, with 8:26 showing on the clock.

It took only two plays after the Rebels took over possession of the ball to give it back to Highland Home as defensive tackle John May pounced on a Reeltown fumble at the Rebel 38 yard line with 6:07 on the scoreboard clock. Once again, the Flyboys were unable to move the football forward as a quarterback Tyler McGough pass to Highland Home wideout Mike Montgomery was picked off and returned out to the Rebel 42 yard line. From that point it took Reeltown only 4 plays to cover the 58 yards as QB Jud Wright scored from 8 yards out.

Reeltown’s big play of the drive was a 34-yard pass from Wright to Alex Mixon. The PAT kick was true to put the Rebels up early 7 – 0 with 4:57 left in the opening stanza.

After 3 plays lost a total of 9 yards, the Flyboys were forced to punt the ball as punter Tyler McGough got off a 28 yarder as the quarter came to a close with the home-standing Rebels up 7 – 0.

At the start of the 2nd quarter, the Rebels marched 53 yards in 8 plays with fullback Deshaun Carter blasting his way into the Squadron end zone for Reeltown’s 2nd touchdown of the game to go on top 13 – 0.

Highland Home’s second turnover of the game occurred with 8:50 to go before halftime as they laid the ball on the ground at their own 36 yard line.

Reeltown wasted little time in lighting the scoreboard again as QB Wright hit a wide open Deness White, who had burned the Highland defensive back for the score. That covered 39 yards. The Rebels’ PAT run for two points was successful to give them a commanding 21 – 0 lead over the visiting Squadron with 8:10 showing on the game clock.

The Rebels tacked on their 4th and final touchdown of the 1st half when Devon Hayden raced around right end 11 yards to score and put Reeltown up 28 – 0. The big play of this 59-yard, 2-play drive was a magnificent 48-yard run by halfback Brady Newman.

Trailing by four touchdowns, the Notre Dame box offense of the Squadron finally got on the scoreboard as QB Tyler McGough hit wide out Mike Montgomery streaking down the right sideline with 16 seconds left before halftime. The PAT kick was no good as the halftime score stood Reeltown 28, Highland Home 6.

Very little time was wasted to start the 2nd half as the Rebels gained their 5th score of the night on a QB-wide receiver combo of Wright and White’s connection of a 45-yard pass. The PAT kick by Rebel place kicker Brady Newman was no good as they led 34 – 6 with 11:07 left in the 3rd quarter.

Once again, the Flyboys’ offensive unit was unable to gain a 1st down in 3 plays and had to punt the ball back to the Rebels.

With the Rebels taking possession of the ball at their own 43, the ground oriented wishbone marched 57 yards, taking 5 minutes and 36 seconds off the clock as they tallied their final touchdown of the evening on a 6 yard run with 2:55 in the quarter.

Going into the 4th and final quarter, the Flying Squadron recorded their second touchdown with 10:36 left in the game when senior QB Shawn Dickey hit senior running back Cody Peterson on a 21 yard scoring pass. The try of 2 on the PAT run failed as the score stood at 41 – 12 in favor of Reeltown.

Highland Home closed on the scoring for the night on the ensuing kick-off when sophomore linebacker Jared Edge raced 49 yards with the onside kick into Rebel pay dirt as the final score read Reeltown Rebels 41, Highland Home Flying Squadron 18.

There were a few bright spots this week, one being the 137 total yards on offense. Ninety-nine of the yardage came through the air as QB Tyler McGough and Shawn Dickey combined to go 11 of 15 with 2 touchdowns and one interception, but the rushing offense managed only 39 on the ground.

This week the Flying Squadron are back home for a key Region 3 Class 2A match up with Uniontown R. C. Hatch. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. Friday night at Clay-Jordan Stadium on the H.H.S. Campus.