On Friday the 13th, Class 2A Region 2 foe Reeltown Rebels all but knocked out the Highland Home Flying Squadron from state play-off contention with a come-from-behind 35 – 31 victory.

This marked the fourth consecutive loss for the Squadron in the 2006 gridiron season, and the third time in that 4 game span that they have given up leads going into the 4th quarter, as the opponents have all scored with two minutes left in the game to pull out the win.

In pulling off the victory, the Rebs had twice as many offensive snaps, 55 compared to 29 for the Fly-Boys, as they gained 271 yards of rushing offense to Highland Home's 252 yards.

The blue clad Rebels also had 14 first downs and 53 yards passing, and the Squadron had 11 first downs and 89 yards passing.

Once again, the turnovers hurt the Squadron as they gave the ball away 4 times, with 3 interceptions and 1 fumble in the game.

Leading 24 -14 over Reeltown to start the 2nd half, the Squadron turned the ball over 2 out of their 1st three possessions as Highland Home QB Deymond Sankey threw an interception at his own 30 yard line with 9:21 left in the 3rd quarter. The Rebs drove 38 yards in 10 plays to cut into the Squadron lead 24 – 20.

The Squadron answered the Rebel score with a touchdown drive of their own.

After an Alex Tindal kick-off return put the ball on the Reeltown 45 yard line, Highland Home QB Sankey raced 41 yards into the Rebel end zone to put Highland Home back on top by double digits 31 – 20, with 3:06 to go in the quarter.

Then, running back Darius Chambers dropped the ball at the Rebel 10 yard line. With the ball at the Squadron 10 yard line, the Rebels scored in 4 plays and Highland Home's lead was now only 31 - 28 at the end of the third quarter.

The Rebels got the final and decisive score on a nine-yard QB keeper with 1:17 to go in the game.

The key play on the winning drive was a 3rd down play when Highland Home line backer Deymond Sankey was hit with a 15 yard personal foul penalty that caused him to be thrown out of the game, and allowed the Rebels to continue their winning drive.

Highland Home was led on offense by running back Anthony Merriweather, who had 95 yards on 5 carries and one touchdown rush for 61 yards.

Darius Chambers had 91 yards and one touchdown.

Alzamar Wallace had 44 yards on 4 carries and one score.

Place Kicker Kyle Tucker connected on 4 for 4 PAT kicks and a 25-yard field goal.

Other stand out performers on defense for Highland Home were Cordell Thomas and Darius Chambers, who went 6 solos and 1 assist from their safety spots, Leon McCord who had 13 tackles and DeAndrick Robinson, who had 8 stops.