Accomplishments remembered at Fannin High football banquet

  • Fannin football seniors recognized at the banquet were, from left, Bryce Burnette, Cole Stevenson, Warren Bowen, Brody Paskill.
    Fannin football seniors recognized at the banquet were, from left, Bryce Burnette, Cole Stevenson, Warren Bowen, Brody Paskill.
  • See figure [A]
    See figure [A]
  • Kennedy Mason, Jayda Foster, and Cali Hall, from left, were recognized for their work as the football team’s trainers.
    Kennedy Mason, Jayda Foster, and Cali Hall, from left, were recognized for their work as the football team’s trainers.

    The Fannin County football team held their annual banquet Wednesday, January 10. It was a great night to look back on team and individual accomplishments, and celebrate the 2023 football season.

    One great accomplishment as a student-athlete, is to be recognized for academic achievement, and there were many Rebels who succeeded in that area. The number of players who had a 3.50 GPA or higher were numerous, beginning with the freshmen class. Freshmen receiving an award: Nate O’Neal, Isaac Watkins, Ben Holsonback, Madden Deeter, Graham Maloof, Odin Rea-Gutierrez, Brayden Walker, and Isaiah Stephens.Sophomores receiving academic awards were: Matthew Ponton, Scotty Waldrep, Karson Brown, Braxton Cheatham, 

    Conrad Head, C.J. Reece, Castle Barnett, Baylor Twiggs, Vince Foster, Noah Burnette, Adia Galloway, and Jacob Green. Juniors receiving academic awards were: Lawson Sullivan, Luke Holsonback, Elijah Weaver, Cooper Born, Carson Callihan, John Holsonback, Barron Davenport, Jacob Dye, and Case Holloway. Seniors who also received academic awards were: Cole Stevenson, Brody Paskill, and Bryson Bolling.

    Another great honor is to be named to the 7-AA All-Region Team, and the Rebels had many of those as well.

    Garnering honors on the 7-AA First Team Offense was junior quarterback Lawson Sullivan, junior running back Carson Callihan, and junior offensive lineman Case Holloway. Named to the second team All-Region team was junior offensive lineman Jacob Dye.

    Named to the 7-AA First Team Defense was junior linebacker Cooper Born and junior defensive back Braden Taylor. Making the second team All-Region defensive team was junior linebacker Luke Holsonback, senior linebacker Brody Paskill, and sophomore linebacker C.J. Reece.

    Fannin County also had 11 more players who made honorable mention and those were: freshman Isaac Watkins, sophomore Conrad Head, sophomore Noah Burnette, sophomore Braxton Cheatham, sophomore Jacob Green, sophomore Baylor Twiggs, sophomore Matthew Ponton, sophomore Judah Wood, junior Tucker Dockery, junior John Holsonback, and junior Elijah Weaver.

    Also honored were the annual Panter Insurance Players of the Week, presented by Kevin and Austin Panter. Those weekly winners were: Noah Burnette, Cooper Born, Matthew Ponton, Carson Callihan, Lawson Sullivan, Braden Taylor, Jacob Green, C.J. Reece, Luke Holsonback, John Holsonback, Brody Paskill, Baylor Twiggs, Jacob Dye, Case Holloway, and Braxton Cheatham.

    Also, important to any sports program, are the trainers, and nowadays, the film crew is an invaluable resource, and the Rebel football program acknowledged those as well. Trainers and film crew members who received a letter, as well as an academic award were: Student Trainers- Cali Hall, Annalise Hughes, Kennedy Mason, and Jayda Foster. Other trainers were Nate Smith and Emily Turner. Members of the film crew who received a letter and academic awards were: Emma Pittman, James Burrell, and Carnacio Dixon.

    Fannin County Head Coach Chad Cheatham spoke about how proud he was of this year’s team, and all of the hard work that goes into the football program. “I want to say thank you to this Football Team and these Coaches. One key to being successful is continued consistency and we have made that happen. Very few coaching changes in six years (this year was a little different but they bought right in), zero wavering from the mission, and vision we put forth in 2018 and all of that has yielded a 6 for 6 run to the GHSA playoffs, several region championships and a growth of a program from the age of Kindergarten through our Seniors..

    The beauty/hardship of this season is that we had six seniors, four of which were completely new to the program, one had limited time and one Senior that started consistently games 1-11. We were full of freshmen, sophomores and juniors. Sometimes I wondered if it was a blessing or a curse. Leadership and experience are very important in this game. We found out very quickly that even though young we had a group of kids that would not quit. They would find a way! They would make each game 48 minutes and take it to the wire. Most people don’t realize we were 17 points from being 9-2, and advancing to the second round. We battled and finished, never giving in nor surrendering. That is what defines the team of 2023!. Now with that being said, the fact that we are returning 20 starters, eyes will be on us very quickly. However, I am confident with the grass time that our underclassmen have received, the leadership roles they have advanced in, we are quickly going to be the hunter, not the hunted! A new region, a new classification, a senior class full of experience and leadership is a formula for success. However, it is not going to be given, it must be earned. We must put in the work. We must put in the overtime. Every lift, every rep, every drill will be the key to success in 2024. The prize is ours for the taking, but in order to do that the grind must occur and each of you must embrace the grind! What you do now until August 16th vs Gilmer will be the true tell. If you are not improving every single day with your eyes forward and focused toward a Region Championship, I question your reason for playing this honorable game. It is time to grind. To our seniors, it has been a pleasure to be your coach. I love each of you. Some of you were only one year players, others two. I wished we had you all four years. Brody Paskill, you are the epitome of Rebel Pride and all in. Four years totally devoted to the Rebel Mission and Vision. You worked, you waited your time, you were the model teammate and you will be missed. Your future is extremely bright.”