LEE REPORT: Rebels ride into playoffs on 5-game win streak – Midland Reporter-Telegram

Lees Canyon Moses (23) and Finley Higgins (24) tackle San Angelo Centrals Jalen Leifeste (6) on Friday, Nov. 27, 2020 at Grande Communications Stadium. Jacy Lewis/Reporter-Telegram

Lees Canyon Moses (23) and Finley Higgins (24) tackle San Angelo Centrals Jalen Leifeste (6) on Friday, Nov. 27, 2020 at Grande Communications Stadium. Jacy Lewis/Reporter-Telegram

Photo: Jacy Lewis/Reporter-Telegram

Lees Canyon Moses (23) and Finley Higgins (24) tackle San Angelo Centrals Jalen Leifeste (6) on Friday, Nov. 27, 2020 at Grande Communications Stadium. Jacy Lewis/Reporter-Telegram

Lees Canyon Moses (23) and Finley Higgins (24) tackle San Angelo Centrals Jalen Leifeste (6) on Friday, Nov. 27, 2020 at Grande Communications Stadium. Jacy Lewis/Reporter-Telegram

LEE REPORT: Rebels ride into playoffs on 5-game win streak

The Lee football team is entering the postseason on a roll.

The Rebels (8-1, 5-1) are riding a five-game winning streak heading into next weeks Class 6A Division I playoffs when theyre likely to host either El Paso Montwood or El Paso Pebble Hills for a bi-district round game at Grande Communications Stadium.

Lee capped off District 2-6A play with a 56-35 win over San Angelo Central last Friday to secure a share of its third consecutive District 2-6A title with Odessa Permian (7-2, 5-1).

It was an ideal ending considering the Rebels didnt start off district on the right note, falling 55-44 to rival Permian in the 2-6A opener.

Lee head coach Clint Hartman said he hears it from the outside the few times the Rebels lose, as the program has gone 38-9 since the start of the 2017 season.

Its kind of gotten around here where its kind of like the (New England) Patriots, Hartman said. You lose a game and all of the sudden, whats going on over there? Whats wrong? And a lot of times, its nothing real big, its just we didnt play very well or something didnt happen well. But its kind of good to get those expectations again.

The Rebels responded to the defeat by running the table of their remaining district games, outscoring their last five opponents, 266-115.

Lee joined the 1986-88 Rebels and 1998-2000 Rebels as groups of teams that won three consecutive district titles in program history.

Im proud of where were at, Hartman said. We have a great staff, we have great kids. They believe in our program. They believe in what we do. People dont understand, theres a whole bunch of love in these halls and the more kids love each other and they pull for each other and coaches love them, the harder they are going to play.

Senior quarterback Mikey Serrano spearheaded Lee in its win over the Bobcats last week, completing 17 of 23 passes for 197 yards and four TD passes and no interceptions. Serrano also rushed 12 times for 161 yards and a TD.

Serrano finished the regular season with 1,850 yards passing and 20 TD passes to along with 534 rushing yards and five rushing TDs. But Serranos most impressive stat might be having thrown only one interception in 219 pass attempts.

He may have had a better year (than 2019), Hartman said. Its a shortened season. Were a game short. He was beat up with that sprained ankle and now hes healthy. I tell you this, hes a great football player. Im still amazed no Division I program has come in and jumped in on him just yet. Maybe they will late. I have seen that before. But he can run, he can throw, hes accurate. He takes care of the football. What else do you want?

The Rebels defense also came through against Central, as it recorded four sacks and three takeaways.

Sophomore cornerback Canyon Moses had both an interception and a fumble recovery, while senior linebacker Elijah Nunez returned a 47-yard interception for a touchdown.

I thought our secondary played really well, Hartman said. They broke on balls. We created sacks and turnovers.

Nunez finished with 10 tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack.

The entire Rebel linebacking corps shined as senior Jacob Maltos recorded 17 tackles, junior Wesley Smith had 10 tackles and sophomore Abraham Davalos registered 10 tackles.

The Rebels now turn their focus toward the playoffs, as they have an open week, while Montwood and Pebble Hills are finishing up their District 1-6A schedule with their league finales on Saturday.

We had a meeting (Monday) and we talked about your practice attitude has to be better in the playoffs,Hartman said. If you've never been, the kids play harder. Theyre playing for their life too. You have to understand that. We talked about attention to detail. We still have some detail issues that weve got to get better at, as far as steps and things like that.

chadorn@mrt.com| Follow Christopher on Twitter: @chris_MRTsports

REBEL YELLS

--Lees Larry Hall received the Dave Campbells Texas Football Community Connector Award this week.

Hall, 80, has washed clothes, filmed games, and fixed things at the teams fieldhouse, which is named after him, over the past 30 years. He gives his time to help the Rebel football program in any capacity thats needed, including driving teams trainers 11 hours to and from a game in San Benito in 2018.

--Clint Hartman is one win away from collecting his 100thcareer win as head football coach. Hartmans record is 99-51 in 13 years of coaching.

--Lee senior wide receiver Christian Romero has 54 receptions this season, tying the 54 catches he had in 2019 for the third-most by a Rebel in a single season. Texas Tech freshman Loic Fouonji is the leader with 73 catches in 2019, followed by 56 receptions from Isaiah Johnson in 2013. Romeros 735 receiving yards also are the second-highest regular season total in program history. Fouonji, with 1,224 regular season receiving yards in 2019, is the leader.

Lee MVPs

Offense

Mikey Serrano, Sr., QB

He completed 17 of 23 passes for 197 yards and four TD passes in a 56-35 win over San Angelo Central. He also rushed 12 times for 161 yards and a TD.

Defense

Jacob Maltos, Sr., OLB

Maltos was all over the field in last Fridays victory over Central, registering 18 total tackles (10 solo), a tackle for loss, and one quarterback hurry.

Special Teams

Gunner Meade, Jr., K

He went a perfect 8-for-8 on PAT tries, and had four touchbacks on kickoffs against the Bobcats. He has gone 67-for-67 on PAT attempts this year.

2020 LEE STATISTICS

(8-1, 5-1)

Opponents49485685238

Lee8112412096421

RUSHING

PlayerAtt.Yds.Avg.TD

Makhilyn Young1281,2479.719

Mikey Serrano755347.15

Shemar Davis614807.98

Addison Akbar361795.01

Payton Clifton7385.40

Trent Gonzales8324.00

Christian Romero166.00

Team2-39-19.50

Totals3182,4777.833

PASSING

PlayerComp.Att.Int.Yds.TD

Mikey Serrano14621911,85020

Shemar Davis230310

Payton Clifton12130

Marcos Davila01000

Totals14920221,88420

RECEIVING

PlayerRec.Yds.Avg.TD

Christian Romero5473513.69

Shemar Davis3748113.05

Nate Suttle242369.81

Michael Valles1222118.43

JuJu Rivas76711.21

Makhilyn Young66611.01

Addison Akbar5367.20

Mikey Serrano12424.00

Aidan Acosta11111.00

Tyler Smith144.00

Alexander Gilbert133.00

Totals1491,88412.620

SCORING

PlayerTDPAT2PTFGTP

Makhilyn Young20010122

Shemar Davis14080100

Gunner Meade0430867

Christian Romero900054

Mikey Serrano500030

Michael Valles300018

Addison Akbar10006

Nate Suttle10006

Jalon Roberson10006

Elijah Nunez10006

JuJu Rivas10006

Totals564398421

PUNTING

PlayerNo.Yds.Avg.LongIn20

Jacob Maltos617128.5482

Alexander Gilbert1748428.4522

INTERCEPTIONS

PlayerNo.YardsAvg.LongTD

Elijah Nunez26331.5471

Finley Higgins23316.5310

Tre Hubert252.540

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LEE REPORT: Rebels ride into playoffs on 5-game win streak - Midland Reporter-Telegram