The Fannin County Rebels used a strong second quarter to roll to a 42-14 Region 7AA football win over the Murray County High School Indians Friday, October 20.
It was a do or die game for the Rebels as they hold out hopes of post season action.
Brody Paskill started the game with a fair catch of the kickoff at the Rebels 27 yard line.
Quarterback Lawson Sullivan ran earning a first down, then a handoff to Braden Taylor gained six. Sullivan passed to Taylor for the first and then some. Carson Callihan made his first run of the night for a seven yard gain before Sullivan carried the ball to the 15 yard line. Callihan’s three consecutive carries put the ball into the endzone for six Rebel points. Matthew Ponton’s kick split the uprights for a 7-0 lead.
Ponton’s kicked sailed to the ten yard line and Scott Waldrep made the stop at the 20 yard line. Paskill, Taylor, Cooper Born, CJ Reece, Elijah Weaver, and Tucker Dockery all made good defensive plays as the Indians marched down the field to a fourth down within eight yard of the goal line. The Indian quarterback found a receiver in the end zone. The extra point tied game at 7-7 with just over a minute left in the first quarter.
Braxton Cheatham returned the ball for 23 yards to the Fannin 44 yard line. A personal foul call walked the Rebels into Indian territory. Callihan made an 18 run for first down to the 24 yard line, then a Sullivan pass to Taylor gained six. Sullivan took off from the 18 yard touchdown run that put Fannin ahead 13-7. Ponton’s kick flew through the uprights putting 14 on the board to the Indians 7.
The next Indian possession was stopped cold by the Rebel defense. Paskill and Luke Holsonback stopped the kick return at the 22 yard line. Cheatham made a stop around the outside before Jacob Dye came off the line hot for a sack for a big loss. Baylor Twiggs made the next stop to hand the Indians fourth down, forcing a punt.
Sullivan connected with Cheatham on a long pass that put the Rebels just shy of the goal line. Callihan finished the drive with six point, Ponton was again good for the PAT and the Rebels went up 21-7.
Ponton’s kick went just ten yards before he fell on the onside kick and the offense took over at the 49 yard line. Sullivan, Callihan and Reece moved the ball downfield on the ground and Born snagged a Sullivan pass before Sullivan carried the ball in for another Rebels touchdown. Ponton made the Rebel lead 28-7.
After the kickoff, Taylor intercepted a Murray County pass to put the Rebel offense back on the field.
A 55 yard pass to Andrew Knuckolls quickly put the Rebels back in the end zone. Ponton nailed the PAT putting the Rebels up 35-7.
Ponton kicked off and Cheatham met the returner immediately. Stops by Luke Holsonback and Conrad Head forced the Indians to punt.
A breakaway run by Sullivan moved the ball 55 yards to get within 12 yards of the end zone. Reece crossed the goal line and Ponton’s extra point was good, leaving the Rebels with a 42-7 advantage.
Two plays after the kickoff the half ended after stops by Reece and Born.
Waldrep and Head wrapped up the returner on the opening half kickoff. Born, Taylor, Weaver , Cheatham, Reece, Paskill, all made defensive stops before Taylor made the read and picked off the Indian pass. Three Reece runs gained nine, but the Indians took over on downs at the 32 yard line.
Barron Davenport, Judah Wood, Waldrep, and John Holsonback all made tackles before Murray County put six points on the board. With their extra point, the Indians closed the gap to 42-14 with five and a half minutes left in the game.
Cheatham returned the kick to midfield and a late hit gave the Rebels 15 more yards. Nate O’Neal checked in at quarterback and handed off Wood who ran the ball for four yards followed by a run for first down. The Rebels couldn’t cross the goal line and Adia Galloway’s attempted field goal was blocked by the Indians.
The Indians offense took over at the 20 yard line. Paskill rushed the quarterback as the clock rolled down to zero.
The Rebels pocketed the 42-14 victory and will be on the road Thursday, October 26, against Rockmart High School.