Rebels third quarter effort can’t overcome visitors’ lead
The Fannin County High School Rebels football team fell short in the rivalry match up against the Gilmer County Bobcats, 42-24, Friday, August 15.
The Rebels received the opening kickoff and got too close to the end zone with catches by Braxton Cheatham and Reid Holloway and runs by Cannon Holloway, Bryson Cole, and Jasper Mealer. They converted the drive to three points with a Matthew Ponton field goal.
The Bobcats took over on the 19 yard line. CJ Reece, Judah Wood, Cole, Cheatham, and R. Holloway all made defensive stops, but the Bobcats finished with a rushing touchdown. With their extra point, Gilmer was up 7-3 nearing the second quarter.
R. Holloway made the next return to the 32. C. Holloway kept it for a few yards, but a false start walked the Rebels back. The Rebels weren’t able to capitalize on the drive, so Casen Bailey sent a booming punt, backing Gilmer up to their five yard line. Wood made a stop followed by tackles by Cole, Head, and Reece, but the Bobcats were able to find a hole and break away from another rushing touchdown. The extra point made the score 14-3 early in the second quarter.
Wood made the return to the 20 yard line, then Bailey ran the ball for short yardage. After an incomplete pass, C. Holloway kept the ball for the first down. Nate O’Neal then checked in at quarterback. He completed a pass to R. Holloway, Wood, and Cheatham to combine for a Rebel first down. After an incompletion, O’Neal kept it for short gain. A completed pass to Brayden Walker gave the Rebels another first down. After two short gains and an incomplete pass, the Rebels punted away.
Cole and Jacob Green both had two stops, but the Bobcats broke away again for another score and took a 21-3 lead.
A Gilmer interception stopped Fannin’s next offensive possession.
Cayden Reece made a stop for no gain, then Cole made a tackle, but not before a Bobcat first down. CJ Reece made a tackle for no gain to end the half.
As the Bobcats started the second half, Fannin’s Scotty Waldrep, changed the momentum with a fumble recovery. O’Neal completed two passes to R. Holloway to earn first downs both times and then R. Holloway rushed twice, completing the drive with a score. With Ponton’s PAT, the Rebels closed the gap to 21-10.
Cole, Green, Wood, CJ Reece, and Cayden Reece all made stops that forced the Bobcats to punt.
O’Neal completed a pass to Walker, then Cole ran for a first down. An O’Neal keep led to another first down. After an incomplete pass, Mealer ran and Wood received to combine for a first down. Mealer ran again for eight yards then Wood ran for the first down. O’Neal kept the ball and rushed twice to finish the drive with a score. A Cheatham run earned a two point conversion to continue the Rebels’ comeback at 21-18.
Gilmer took over at the Rebel 26 yard line. Baylor Twiggs made a tackle after a yard gain, then Wood and Head made stops before Gilmer found a gap to take it to the end zone, which, with the PAT, made the score 28-18 late in the third quarter.
A Bobcat interception ending the third quarter changed the momentum on the Rebels next possession.
Gilmer capitalized to make the score 35-18 early in the fourth quarter. The kickoff was fumbled and recovered by the Bobcats at their 41 yard line, leading to another Gilmer score. With their extra point, the visitors led 42-18.
Brody Burnette made a return to the Rebel 40 yard line. O’Neal completed a pass to R. Holloway for six yard then to Wood for a first down. After an incomplete pass, Cheatham received for another first down. An O’Neal keep gained six inside the 15 yard line. Then, a catch by Wood got the Rebels just short of third down. Another O’Neal keep earned first and goal. Cole ran for a short gain that set up the O’Neal pass to Wood for a Rebel touchdown and the last score of the game. The PAT was no good, and the final score of 42-24 was recorded.
An onside kick attempt was recovered by the Bobcats, then Waldrep and Reese Sisson made stops to end the game.
The Rebels will travel to Rabun County, Friday, August 22, to take on the Wildcats. The game will kickoff at 7:30 p.m. in Tiger, Georgia.