Tallassee's Joseph Hooks (2) and Caleb Stewart (41) Photos by Kyle Thornton

Rebels dominate in opener

By Michael Butler

The 2023 season high school football season got underway in Reeltown on Thursday night and it was a one-sided affair. Tallassee lost 41-14.

"We were well prepared. We just didn't play like I thought we would," said THS head coach Mike Battles. "We do have a lot of first-time young guys. I'm sure the kids are disappointed."

Emotions were quite different on the Reeltown side.

"I was extremely pleased with the relentless effort that we played with throughout the game," Reeltown's Matt Johnson said. "I was extremely proud of how we were able to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Tallassee has a very experienced group up front so that was a concern going in. I felt like we answered the challenge."

The late 8 p.m. start did not faze the Rebels' Arthur Woods. He was untouchable scoring five touchdowns on just seven rushes piling up 201 rushing yards. Woods' scores came from 8, 71, 33, 11 and 67 yards.

Woods with one of his five TDs

Woods' first score came after Finn Henderson's interception set up the Rebels at Tallassee's 20 after the Tigers' opening possession. His longest run of the night came on the ensuing series with a 71-yard scamper to paydirt.

By halftime it was 28-0 with all scores by Woods. Tae Martin's 85-yard kickoff return sealed the deal on the opening play of the second half.

Tallassee struggled finding offense. It did not cross the 50 until the fourth quarter.

"Defensively I feel like it's probably the best performance we have had in a very long time," Johnson added. "We were playing really well in the box and our secondary read their keys."

Christian McCary broke the shutout with a three-yard run in the final frame. He added a second score from 11 yards out. McCary finished with 59 yards on 17 carries and the two TDs. Joseph Hooks led Tallassee with 73 yards on 15 attempts.

"Overall very proud of our team, how they played the game," Johnson said. "We revealed our identity and I am proud of what that is."

Reeltown is off this week, while Tallassee gets ready for its home opener vs. Booker T. Washington.

"We're not going to quit," said Battles. "It's game one of the season. We've got a lot of ballgames left to play."

Reeltown's JJ Kendrick has a stronghold on the Tigers' Christian McCary

As for the "Battle of Tallpoosa" continuing, Johnson hopes so.

"We are closing out the second contract we've had with this game and to my knowledge everything has gone very well. I have no issues or complaints with it other than two losses. I look forward to sitting back down with both sides after reclassification and region schedules are made and getting this game back on another contract."

The series is now even at 10-10.

"It was the largest attendance we have had in the rivalry just by paid fans alone," Johnson noted, "adding in others in attendance like band, workers and pass holders it surpassed it easily."

Kickoff for BTW/Tallassee on Friday is 7 p.m. WTLS/Score 94.7/Hit 106.9 will have the live broadcast with an airtime of 6 p.m. (simulcast on Spectrum Channel 340). Video streaming will be on Tallassee Times TV.

*Photos by Kyle Thornton

GAME STATS
Tallassee vs. Reeltown
8/24/23, 8:00 PM
Regular Season

SCORING SUMMARY:
1st Quarter
REE: Arthur Woods 71 yd Rush (TD) 0-6
REE: Tae Martin 3 yd Rush (CNV) 0-8
REE: Arthur Woods 33 yd Rush (TD) 0-14
REE: Arthur Woods 6 yd Rush (TD) 0-20
2nd Quarter
REE: Kelan Bevels (PAT) 0-21
REE: Arthur Woods 11 yd Rush (TD) 0-27
REE: Hagan Lewis (PAT) 0-28
3rd Quarter
REE: Tae Martin 85 yd Kickoff Return (TD) 0-34
REE: Arthur Woods 67 yd Rush (TD) 0-40
REE: Kelan Bevels (PAT) 0-41
4th Quarter
TAL: Christian McCary 3 yd Rush (TD) 6-41
TAL: Alec Caeswell (PAT) 7-41
TAL: Christian McCary 11 yd Rush (TD) 13-41
TAL: Alec Caeswell (PAT) 14-41