The Fannin County Rebels topped Coosa 37-7 to remain undefeared in Region 7AA Friday, October 29.
The Rebels defense was lights out against the Eagles, as Fannin held Coosa to just 40 total yards. The Rebels offense was explosive as well, gaining 337 yards on the evening.
The Rebels kicked the ball off to start the game as the Eagles brought the ball out to around midfield.
Two plays into the Eagles drive, Carson Collis picked off a Coosa pass to give the Rebels the ball at their own 39 yard line.
With Seth Reece in at quarterback, he handed the ball off to Austin Garland for a nice seven yard gain to make it second and three at the Rebels 46 yard line.
Garland found a big hole on the next play with help from a nice block by Cade Sands to put the ball into Coosa territory and give the Rebels a fresh set of downs.
The Rebels continued to move the ball on the ground as Reece made it to the Eagles 28 yard line for a third and five situation.
Reece kept the ball and gained three yards to make it fourth and two.
The Rebels went for it as Reece kept the ball and was able to get the first down at the Eagles 19 yard line. Garland rumbled his way up the gut on a 19 yard touchdown run on the very next play to give Fannin a 6-0 lead after the extra point was blocked with around 8:50 seconds to go in the first quarter. Coosa got the ball at their own 20 yard line, but could not gain enough for a first down as Logan Long, Nate Maloof and the Rebel defense forced the Eagles to punt back to the Rebels.
A roughing-the-punter penalty on Fannin gave Coosa the ball back, however, as Coosa looked to score. The rainy weather forced a fumble a few plays into Coosa’s drive, and Ricardo Arellanes came away with the football to give the ball back to Fannin.
A few plays later Reece found a hole on the left side as he powered his way into the endzone on a 40 yard touchdown run. After the two-point conversion, the Rebels led 14-0 with 4:51 left in the first quarter.
Bryan Stiles tackled the kickoff returner as Coosa started their drive from their own 23 yard line.
The Rebels locked down the Eagles as they were forced to punt back to Fannin, but a roughing the punter penalty against Fannin gave the ball back to Coosa.
The Rebels held again and forced a punt as Corbin Davenport took the punt out to the Rebels 30 yard line with 1:30 left in the first quarter.
Fannin was unable to score on their drive as they punted back to Coosa. The Eagles had a big return to the Rebels 25 yard line.
The good field position yielded no results as Fannin forced a punt and took over at their own 10 yard line. Reece hurdled a defender and tightroped down the sideline for a big gain to the 33 yard line for a fresh set of downs. Reece broke off another huge run to get to the Coosa 47 yard line. Garland exploded up the middle to 30 yard line. Reece, Cason Owenbsy and Garland continued the ground and pound, but the Rebels were unable to move the chains until the field goal unit came onto the field.
Fannin faked the field goal and Davenport rolled out and found Carson Collis inside the five yard line for a first down. A few plays later Reece found Hayden Lynch on a slant to give the Rebels a touchdown. Jack Kantner’s extra point was good as Fannin led 21-0.
Coosa got the ball and quickly scored with around 34 seconds left in the second to slice into the Fannin lead 21-7 after the extra point to take the game to halftime.
Fannin got the ball to start the third as Bryson Holloway had a monster return to Coosa’s 34 yard line. The Rebels could not convert, as they punted back to Coosa. After a few back and forth scoreless possessions, Fannin finally found the endzone early in the fourth quarter when Reece found Sawyer Moreland for a touchdown. Kantner’s extra point was good as Fanni led 28-7.
Andrew Waldrep came away with a huge safety on Coosa’s next possession to give the Rebels two points as they increased their lead 30-7.
Coosa punted the ball to Fannin after the safety and Fannin capitalized as David Mashburn tightroped down the sideline for a touchdown and after the extra point, Fannin led 37-7 where the score remained until the final buzzer as Fannin took the Region 7AA Championship for the second year in a row. Reece finished the game with 173 yards rushing and a touchdown, while Garland had 68 rushing yards and a touchdown, and Mashburn had 75 rushing yards and a touchdown. Reece also completed four passes for 19 yards and two touchdowns. Owensby led the defense with seven tackles and three tackles for loss. Waldrep had a big night, collecting five tackles, two tackles for loss, a safety and a punt return. Sands had three tackles and a punt block as well for Fannin.
The Rebels will play their final home game of the regular season Friday, November 5, when they take on Dade County on senior night. Kickoff is set for 7:30p.m.