Fannin County’s football Rebels took a 35-0 loss to a non-region foe, the Rabun County Wildcats, Friday, August 22, in Tiger, Georgia.
The Rebels started the game on offense at the 13 yard line, but a loose ball on the first play allowed Rabun County to take over.
With Rabun County only 13 yards away from the goal line, Reid Holloway made the first stop for no gain. CJ Reece made another stop after a three yard gain. Judah Wood make a score-saving tackle before the Wildcats found the end zone, and took a 7-0 lead early in the game.
The Rebels started their next possession at the 20 yard line. Gains by Bryson Cole and Jasper Mealer, and Nate O’Neal and Karson Brown moved the ball down the field before the Wildcats sacked O’Neal in the backfield, forcing the Rebels to punt.
Conrad Head made the stop on the punt.
Backed up to the five yard line, a Wildcat broke free for 44 yards before Head made the stop. Braxton Cheatham, Scotty Waldrep, Reece, Wood, Head and Cason Bailey all made defensive stops as the Wildcats moved down the field before adding six points with just under three minutes left in the first quarter. The point after put the hosts up 14-0.
Cheatham took the kickoff to the 23 yard line where the Rebel offense took over.
O’Neal kept the ball for nine yards then Cole picked up a first down. Brayden Walker made a catch for another first down before the Wildcats found O’Neal in the backfield making it second and 18 to end the first quarter.
Rabun’s defense held, and a bad snap gave the Wildcats the ball at the Rebel 36 yard line.
The Wildcats went up 20-0 two plays later.
The Rebels were pinned at the six yard line after the kickoff, and despite runs of six and one yards by Cole, allowed a Rabun County safety to give the hosts a 22-0 lead.
Rebel defensive stops by Cole, Wood, Waldrep, Noah Burnette, and Head forced a punt on Rabun’s next series.
The Rebel offense was forced to punt on a three-and-out.
The Wildcats took over to put seven more points on the board for a 29-0 lead.
The Rebels were again pinned deep in their own territory, and forced to punt from their own end zone.
Taking over from only 35 yards away, Rabun County scored a field goal to end the half on top 32-0.
Waldrep made a stop for loss at 24 yard line on the first play of the second half. Defensive stops by Wood, Cole and Bailey, coupled with an incomplete pass and unsportsmanlike conduct penalty forced a Rabun punt.
Once again the hosts’ defense stopped Fannin, forcing a punt.
A drive down the field resulted in another Wildcat field goal, giving the hosts their final points of the game at 35-0.
The Rebels’ next drive ended with a field goal attempt, but it was blocked, and the Wildcats recovered at their 22 yard line.
The teams then swapped possessions before a Holloway catch was short of the goal line to end the game.