By By Brian Craig Robinson/special to The Star
September 28, 2002
HEIDELBERG Kemper Academy came into Friday night's contest knowing it had come a long way with its football program, and looking for a measuring stick to see how stack up against the state's elite football programs. Although they fought hard, Heidelberg's depth proved to be too much as the Rams bowed to the Rebel's, 35-0.
The Rebels jumped to an early 7-0 lead on a 34-yard touchdown pass from Brooks Lewis with 4:02 left to play in the first quarter. The touchdown was set up by solid ground gains from Jeremy Eason, Blake Bass, and Brody Bustin who carried the ball from the midfield stripe to the Ram 34.
The Heidelberg scored next, with Bass intercepting a pass and running it back 30 yards for the score. The extra point was once again successful.
With 40 ticks of the clock left in the first half, the Rebels delivered the knockout blow on a 10-yard touchdown catch by Brooks Matthews. The Rebels went in at the half with a commanding 21-0 lead.
After the Heidelberg faithful cheered the local homecoming court, they didn't have to wait long to cheer again as the Rebels scored on a 63-yard jaunt by Bustin with only 1:28 expired in the third quarter. The PAT was successful.
The Rebel defense proved too much for the Rams as they continually stopped the KA ground attack, holding them on numerous fourth and long plays and forced them to punt on their other possessions.
The Rebels closed the scoring by surprising the Rams, who were looking to stuff the run, when they tossed a 25-yard scoring strike on fourth and 9 with 4:17 left in the contest.
The Rebels were led by Lewis who threw three TDs against no interceptions and 86 yards passing and Bustin who had 101 yards on the ground and a pair of TDs. Joe McLeod added an 11-yard scoring catch.