Rabbs score 41 second half points in 53-35 win

By Tim Emmons
temmons@casscountynow.com

Last Friday night the Atlanta Rabbits celebrated Homecoming night with a 53-35 thumping of rival Tatum.
The Eagles rolled out to a 14-0 lead before the Rabbs cut it to 14-12 going into the break.
The Rabbit Express outscored Tatum 41-21 in the second half to seal the victory.
Before the contest AHS students Curtis Smith and Mary Katie Tigert were named this year’s Homecoming King and Queen.

First Quarter
Tatum opened the game with a 10 play drive which ended with a 5-yard touchdown run.
The point after made the score 7-0 with 9:12 left on the clock.
After turning the ball over on downs Tatum looked poised to run away with the game early as they marched 50 yards in 12 plays for another score.
The PAT boosted the score to 14-0 with 3:15 left in the first quarter.
 Second Quarter
The two teams punted the ball back-and-forth to each other until the Rabbs caught a break as Dantay Casey blocked a punt at the 8:36 mark; setting Atlanta up at the Tatum 41-yard line.
Henson finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown lunge across the goal line.
The PAT was blocked but Atlanta had cut the Eagles’ lead to 14-6 with 6:37 left in the second quarter.
On the Eagles’ next drive Atlanta forced a fumble and recovered it at the 20-yard line.
Henson nearly scored as he aimed the ball at the pylon on a 19-yard scamper, but was called out at the one.
Kelton Young took the ball into the endzone on the very next play for another Rabbit score.
The 2-point play was unsuccessful but the Rabbs were within striking distance at 14-12 going into the halftime break.

Third Quarter
Both high-powered offenses woke up in the second half.
Tatum scored at the 8:45 mark and with the 2-point play the score was 22-12. 
Not to be outdone Atlanta only needed one play to cut the lead as Henson hit Trin Taylor for a 46-yard touchdown.
Henson took the ball across the goal line for the 2-point play, and Atlanta was down just 22-20.
Another fumble by Tatum set the Rabbs up at the 29.
From there Henson hit Webster on a 29-yard pass play for the Rabbs’ first lead of the night.
The PAT was no good but the Rabbits were up 26-22. 
After forcing Tatum to punt on their next drive, Atlanta would once again score after Henson took the ball in after a 27-yard gallop.
The PAT was good and the Rabbs increased their lead to 33-22 with 6:01 left in the third quarter.
Later in the quarter Jawan King raced 60 yards for another Rabbit touchdown.
The PAT cushioned the Rabbs’ lead to 40-22 with time winding down in the third quarter.
The third frame came to an end with the Eagles driving into Rabbit territory.
Fourth Quarter
The Eagles scored four plays into the final drive and the PAT made the score 40-28 with 10:50 left in the contest.
On Atlanta’s next drive a pick-6 by the Eagles and a successful PAT brought the score to 40-35.
Fortunately the Rabbit Express had no intentions of letting Tatum climb back into it. On the next drive Kelton Young  darted 68 yards into the endzone with no flags in sight.
The PAT put the Rabbs up 47-35 with 8:49 left.
Casey scored the final TD of the night with a 10-yard touchdown run.
Henson ended the game with 164 yards passing and two touchdowns and added 58 yards with two scores on the ground.
Kelton Young had 158 yards with two touchdowns, King posted 106 yards with a TD, Taylor had 81 yards receiving with one score and Webster had 37 yards receiving with a TD. 
The Rabbs open district this Friday, Oct. 7, at Pittsburg with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m.