The Fannin County Rebels football team unofficially kicked off the 2021 season with a scrimmage against Highway 515 rival Gilmer County Friday, August 6. Both teams shook off some off-season rust, and defense was solid from both teams as the game went into halftime tied 6-6, but the Rebels erupted in the third quarter to give Fannin the 28-9 lead at the end of the third. The junior varsity took over for both sides in the fourth quarter.
Scores were not kept on the scoreboard, but the scrimmage was played as a normal game.
Fannin won the coin toss to start the game and elected to receive the ball. The Rebels started at their own 30-yard line as David Mashburn debuted as the Rebels quarterback. Mashburn quickly found Cade Sands for a 15-yard pass to move the chains and put the Rebels at their own 45-yard line to get things going, but after a few good runs by Cason Owensby and a catch by Sawyer Moreland, the Rebels had back-to-back penalties and could not convert the third and long and were forced to punt to the Bobcats.
Gilmer got the ball, but penalties and stout Rebel defense forced a Gilmer punt.
Fannin took over and could not generate any offense as they failed to convert a fourth and two to give Gilmer the ball at their own 46-yard line. The Bobcats began marching down the field into Rebel territory but fumbled in the red zone and the Rebels recovered the ball at their own four-yard line.
Mashburn got the Rebels some breathing room as he scampered 14 yards to the Rebel’s 18-yard line. Owensby then broke off a seven-yard run and put the Rebels at their own 25-yard line to make it second and seven.
The Rebels would only gain two more yards the next two downs to make it fourth and one at Fannin’s 27-yard line. The Rebels punted, giving Gilmer the ball at their own 36-yard line.
Both teams battled defensively for the remainder of the first quarter and most of the second quarter, as neither team scored.
Fannin was able to break the ice late in the third and capitalize on a drive from their own 24-yard line. Sands got the chains moving for Fannin with a big catch from Mashburn and battled his way to the 49-yard line. A few plays later, Mashburn ran to the Bobcat’s 39-yard line for another first down. Corbin Davenport kept the Rebels rolling with a catch and muscled his way to Gilmer’s 18-yard line.
Hayden Lynch found paydirt on the next play as he caught an 18-yard touchdown lob from Mashburn to give the Rebels a touchdown.
After a missed field goal, the Rebels held a 6-0 lead with 3:37 to go in the second quarter. Gilmer got the ball back and was able to find the endzone quickly as they scored with 46.8 seconds to go in the first half. The Bobcats missed the extra point, but they evened the score at 6-6, where it remained until halftime.
After halftime, the Rebels came out and looked energized and ready to play. Gilmer got the ball and the Rebels defensive line stuffed the Bobcats on first down.
The Bobcats fumbled soon after, and Case Holloway came away with the ball for Fannin as the Rebels took over at Gilmer’s 34-yard line.
Owensby charged to the 30-yard line for a four-yard run, but a flag on the next play put Fannin back at Gilmer’s 46-yard line.
Fannin fought back to Gilmer’s 40-yard line before Owensby broke through and took a 40-yard run to the house. Fannin attempted a two-point conversion and Carter Mann snagged a nice throw by Mashburn to give the Rebels a 14-6 lead over Gilmer with 9:41 left in the third quarter.
Gilmer got the ball at their own 30-yard line and tried to answer, but Fannin’s defensive line halted the Bobcats and forced a punt.
After the punt, Fannin took over at their own 46-yard line. Mashburn, with help from some big blocks from the offensive line, used his legs a couple of times, along with a pass to Davenport to put Fannin at Gilmer’s 23-yard line.
Moreland caught a 10-yard pass on the next play to set Fannin up at Gilmer’s 13-yard line, and Khole Green later put the Rebels at Gilmer’s two-yard line before Owensby muscled his way in for the touchdown on a two-yard run. The field goal was no good as the Rebels increased their lead 20-6 with 6:18 to go in the third.
The Bobcats got the ball back and was able to get into field goal range, where they converted a field goal on fourth down to make it 20-9 Fannin with 3:07 to go in the third.
Fannin was able to score once more in the third as Green found the endzone on a 17-yard touchdown dart from Mashburn. Green converted a two-point conversion for the Rebels as well to make it 28-9 with 2:13 to go in the third, where the score remained until the start of the fourth.
Fannin and Gilmer both used the fourth quarter to get their junior varsity teams some experience, as both teams performed well.
The Rebels will host the Hayesville Yellowjackets Friday, August 13, for their second preseason scrimmage. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.