Victory: Fannin rolls over Union
Rebels strike early with TD on third play
Fannin County scored on its third play from scrimmage Friday night on the way to a decisive 42-7 gridiron victory over the Union County Panthers in Blairsville.
Fannin took the opening kickoff and started at its own 30 yard line. A long gallop by senior Lawson Sullivan was followed by a Braden Taylor burst that put the ball on Union County’s one yard line. Sullivan carried the ball into the end zone, Matthew Ponton’s extra point was good, and the score was 7-0 in just nine seconds gone off the game clock.
The tone was set for the rest of the half.
After inching out a first down, the Panthers turned the ball over when Tucker Dockery broke up a fourth down pass.
Carson Callihan and Taylor combined for a pair of first downs. A Rebel fumble was recovered by Cooper Born at five yard line in Panther territory. Callihan finished the drive with the score and Ponton added an extra point to put Fannin up 14-0.
Bryson Cole made the special teams stop on the kickoff, and the offense stepped up behind Luke Holsonback, Cooper Born, CJ Reece, Braxton Cheatham and Taylor.
Case Holloway rushed the Union quarterback, forcing an incomplete pass that was followed by another incomplete pass that brought up fourth down. A Noah Burnette sack caused a turnover on downs.
Fannin’s offense struck quickly. After an incomplete pass intended for Judah Wood, Taylor carried the ball for nine yards and Callihan ran for the first down. Then a Sullivan pass to Elijah Weaver led to another Rebel touchdown. Ponton’s extra point was good and made the score 21-0, which would end first quarter scoring.
Cooper Hilliard and Isaac Watkins led the way as the Rebels forced a three-and- out, and the Rebels took over 83 yards away from the goal line.
After the Rebels were pushed back by a holding penalty, Sullivan took off on a 91-yard run for six more Fannin points. Ponton’s extra point made the score 28-0 to start the second quarter.
Union County managed a trio of first downs before being forced to punt.
The offensive strike was again swift. A Sullivan pass was taken downfield by Taylor to get to the 13 yard line. Callihan ran it in to finish the drive and Ponton added the extra point for a 35-0 lead.
The Panthers took over and began what looked like might be a march ending in their first touchdown.
After two quick first downs, a big Panther pass put Union County inside the Rebels. 10 yard line. But Union County called a time out they didn’t have, and the penalty walked then back 10 yards. Born made the last stop to end the half.
Ponton’s second half kickoff went all the way to Union’s five yard line, with sophomore Bryson Cole making the stop at the 33.
Union’s drive ended when the Panthers were forced to turn the ball over on downs.
That set the stage for the final touchdown push by the Rebel starters.
Sullivan kept the ball for a big gain then Callihan ran for a nice gain of his own. A Taylor reception on fourth down moved the Rebels to the 13 yard line. Sullivan finished the drive with the score and Ponton’s extra point was the final for the Rebels, putting Fannin up 42-0 late in the third quarter.
Cheatham made the stop on the return, then Waldrep, Sullivan, and Burnette stepped up on defense before Nolan Urrutia made the tackle to end the third quarter. Holsonback made a pair of stops to force a Union County punt.
Nate O’Neal checked in at quarterback as the Rebels took over at the 35 yard line.
He handed off to Cole for an eight yard gain, then kept it himself for no gain. Cole earned the first down, then Reid Holloway caught an O’Neal pass for four yards. Ryan Preston ran for two yards. Cole ran to get a yard short of the first down marker. The Rebels couldn’t manage the yard and turned it over on downs at the Union 40 yard line.
Cole made the initial contact for the first stop of the drive before a runaway Panther made it to the four yard line. An incomplete pass was followed by a Union County touchdown. The score was 42-7 late in the fourth.
Cheatham returned the Union County kick to the 50 yard line. Cole ran for nine yards then Preston ran but lost a yard. The Rebels held the ball to end the game at 42-7 for their third straight win of the season.
The Rebels are off Friday night before traveling to Coosa Friday, September 13, for the first region game of the season.