BANQUET HONORS ACHIEVEMENTS
The annual football banquet was held on the evening of Thursday, January 25 at the Midland Hilton Ballroom.  The team, coaches, and guests were introduced and served.  A video montage from the 2006 season was displayed, and the night was capped off with the presentation of various individual awards.  I personally attended two other team banquets.  This one was - by far - the most enjoyable.  Hats off to organizers of the event.  [PHOTOS OF BANQUET]  [AWARD RECIPIENTS]

ROLLING THROUGH ROUND ONE
The scoring explosion began when Jason Nash connected with Bryan Edgerton on a 17-yard scoring strike early in the first quarter.  After a Burleson turnover on the ensuing kickoff, the Rebels struck again 23 seconds later on a 1-yard dive by Josey Childs.  Nash fired a 54-yard aerial assault to Corey Petro to give LHS a 21-0 lead.  The Rebels would take a 31-3 halftime lead when Petro grabbed his second TD pass on a 10-yard strike from Nash.  Burleson stormed back to score 27 points in the second half , but Amieul Carr sealed the win with a third quarter 11-yard run.  The Elks scored twice in the final period, but Lee hung on to advance to the area round against Lubbock Monterey at Grande in a rematch from earlier in the season. [STATS] [PHOTO] [VIDEO]

REBELS MAKE PLAYOFFS IN OVERTIME
Lee's first play of its second overtime possession gave the Rebels a 33-30 double overtime victory over Abilene Cooper. Cory Loudermill took the handoff from Jason Nash in Lee's base spread formation.  It looked like he was going to be dropped for a gain of less than five yards. But he kept his feet, breaking at least two tackles and scampering into the end zone for the game-winning score from 25 yards out.  Nash finished the game completing 8-of-24 passes for 127 yards with two interceptions. While Loudermill did much of the work getting the Lee offense into scoring position during the game, Corey Petro did the work near the goal line. Petro scored the Rebels other four touchdowns in the game, including two 1-yard runs and runs of 7 and 2 yards. [GAMES STATS]

DOGS WIN TWIN CITY CLASSIC
The Bulldogs jumped on the Rebels in the first half and never looked back for a 38-21 win in the Twin City Classic.  Lee drew first blood when Jason Nash hit Amiuel Carr for an 11-yard touchdown pass for a 7-0 lead. The Bulldogs answered back on their next possession, as Brandon Batch broke a 79 yard run to the Lee 1-yard line. Farris Strambler went over on the next play to tie it 7-7.  Batch got into the end zone again late in the first quarter on a 14-yard run to give the Bulldogs a 14-7 lead.  The Dawgs would extend their lead to 28-7 at the intermission.  [MORE]

STILL IN HUNT AFTER 31-21 WIN
The Rebels built a 17-point lead in the first 13 minutes of the game and was able to maintain a double-digit advantage against the Odessa High Bronchos the rest of the way.  Lee's offense had a balanced attack as Amieul Carr had 198 rushing yards, with Corey Petro adding 86 yards rushing and Jason Nash passing for another 113 yards.

CLAWED BY EAGLES 29-17
Midland Lee got on the board first on a Price Williams 26-yard field goal to take the early lead.  Abilene High answered with a Brandon Williams 45-yard run to the 2-yard line and plunge two plays later for a 7-3 Eagle lead.  J.J. James got open in the end zone on the next series to stretch the lead to 14-3.   Corey Petro would bring the Rebels to within four at the half on a short TD run.  The Eagles held a double-digit lead thanks to a fumble recovery by Kortney McDow in the end zone and Brandon Williams’ 35-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth. The Rebels scored on a 9-yard run by Petro with 5:21 left in the game.

REBELS STRUGGLE WITH PANTHERS
Permian scored three touchdowns in the first quarter and four more in the second quarter to embarrass the Rebels in the 48-20 loss at Grande Communications Stadium.  Permian scored on seven of nine first half possessions.  The Black Cats had six different players score.  Lavorick Williams scored on a 40-yard and 31-yard touchdown catches.  Tate Smith, Jarvas Morris, Esai Sotello and Shaquay Gant each rushed for touchdowns, with Gant leading Permian’s ground game with 77 yards on five carries.  In the second half, the Panthers came out a little flat, which made way for the Rebels to put 20 points up to close the scoring.  GAME PHOTOS   VIDEO HIGHLIGHT

BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD
The Skeeters scored 28 first-half points on the way to a 31-7 blowout of the Rebels at Abilene's Shotwell Stadium.  Lee's Corey Petro left the game early in the third quarter with a hand injury after rushing for 42 yards and throwing for 28.  Jason Nash came in as relief and completed 9 of 19 passes for 110 yards and throwing the Rebels' only touchdown pass to Desmond Jackson.

HOMECOMING CELEBRATION
It didn't take long for Lee to establish its running game as Jasper McKee scored two touchdowns from 22 and 31 yards out midway through the opening quarter.  Corey Petro added seven more on a 17-yard option for a 21-0 Rebel lead.  Lee added 21 more points in the second half as McKee, Desmond Jackson and Daviian Roberts each scored touchdowns. Jackson scored his first TD of the year on an 85-yard kickoff return to start the third quarter, while Roberts scored on a 13-yard run.  Lee finished with 304 yards rushing, while McKee had 138 yards and three touchdowns.  Petro added another 102 rushing but completed just 2 of 7 passes for 24 yards and the two interceptions.

MONTEREY TAKE 24-10 DECISION
Lubbock Monterey got on the board first on a 32-yard touchdown run by Cody Hill and a 36-yard pass from quarterback Joel Lira to Michael Henderson to end the first quarter.  Lee's lone touchdown came in the second quarter on a 1-yard run from Jasper McKee.  Both teams added a field goal each and the Plainsmen held a 17-10 advantage at halftime.  The Rebels allowed Monterey to score another seven points in the third quarter, increasing the margin to 14 points.  Rebel quarterback Corey Petro finished 10 for 20 in the passing department for 150 yards and added another 25 yards rushing.

REBELS CLAIM 20-13 VICTORY
The Rebels came out in the second half holding a 7-6 lead, after a Davilan Roberts 71 yard touchdown run.  The Rebels took advantage of a Wichita Falls Rider turnover in the third quarter.  Riley Harvey intercepted a pass, which allowed Lee to start a drive at the Rider 43.  Lee quarterback Cory Petro found daylight down the left side for a 14-6 advantage.  Roberts added to the lead on a 56-yard touchdown run. The Raiders trimmed the margin to 20-13 late in the fourth quarter.

REBELS DROP HOME OPENER
The Rockwall Yellowjackets swarmed Grande Stadium and showed Lee no mercy in the 35-13 Rebel loss to start the 2006 season.  Three of the four Rockwall first half TDs came from less than 10 yards out due to two Rebel fumbles and another by the long kickoff return.  Lee's Daviian Roberts had both of the Rebel scores on 62 and 29 yard runs.