The Fannin County High School Rebels laced up their cleats and returned to the football field as they continued to get ready for the 2024 season with a scrimmage against Pickens County High School.
Fannin hosted the Dragons Friday night, and while the score wasn’t posted on the scoreboard, the Rebels dominated the contest.
Fannin offense wasted no time in crossing the goal line when senior Carson Callihan ran two touchdowns in the first five minutes and extra points were good. The Rebels led 14-0.
When the Dragons got the ball, Conrad Head, CJ Reece and Nolan Urrutia stepped up on defense.
A Baylor Twiggs and Scott Waldrep duo made the next stop, and Case Holloway put pressure on the quarterback to force an incomplete pass. Tucker Dockery was first to get to Pickens’ runner on the next play.
As the second quarter started, Luke Holsonback, Lawson Sullivan and Head kept the defensive pressure on, forcing a turnover on downs.
As the Rebels began letting a lot of players get time in the game, their next offensive series ended without a first down.
After the Fannin punt, the Dragons managed the ball for two downs before Braden Taylor forced a fumble and the ball was recovered by Waldrep.
Sullivan connected to Taylor twice on the next series, and Callihan and Judah Wood picked up yards on the ground before Callihan took it in for the score. Matthew Ponton’s extra point added another seven.
Cooper Born came up with an interception and took the ball to the 34 yard line to stop Pickens’ next possession. The drive ended when Ponton chipped one over the crossbars for a field goal adding three more.
Brody Burnette, Reid Holloway and Cooper Hilliard made the first three stops of the second half for the Rebels.
The Fannin offense had trouble and a safety gave Pickens the ball 35 yards away from the Fannin endzone.
Odin Rea Guttirez, Bryson Cole and Hilliard made big defensive plays before Braden Walker picked off a Dragon pass.
Reece and Weaver gained some Rebel yards, but Pickens still forced a Dockery punt.
Braxton Cheatham, Hilliard and Zack Nelson combined defensively to bring up a Pickens fourth down.
On the final series, Cole made the first offensive play with a four yard run. Nate O’Neal connected with R. Holloway to gain eight yards. Cole made the run for first down. Holloway caught an O’Neal pass for a four yard gain. Cole then picked up another Fannin first down. He ran again for another five yards. O’Neal connected with R. Holloway for a Rebel first down. Cole earned another first with a run. O’Neal kept the ball for a seven yard run as the clock ran out.
The Rebels walked away with three touchdowns and a field goal while the only Pickens points were made by the safety call.
The Rebels will be back in action Friday, August 9, in a scrimmage against White County High School at FCHS stadium. Kickoff is at 7:30 pm.