The Fannin County Rebels brought home a 31-28 loss handed them by the North Murray Mountaineers Friday, October 13, after a rainy and hard-fought game.
Brody Paskill made the fair catch at the 24 yard line to start the game for the Rebels who were off and running for their first score. Carson Callihan and Lawson Sullivan took turns carrying the ball downfield. Braden Taylor hauled in a Sullivan pass before the drive was capped by Sullivan’s touchdown run. Matthew Ponton’s extra point sailed through the uprights, putting Fannin up 7-0 halfway through the first quarter.
Ponton kicked off to the 20 yard line where Paskill met the runner immediately. After a North Murray first down, Cooper Born met the runner at the line of scrimmage for a stop. On the next play, Taylor ran down the quarterback for a six yard loss to bring up third down. Linemen Baylor Twiggs and Case Holloway broke through to rush the Mountaineer quarterback to an incomplete pass. North Murray turned the ball over on downs and the Rebel offensive took over on the 46 yard line.
The Rebel drive stalled despite runs of 21 yards by Sullivan and 16 by Callihan.
Ponton’s 17 yard field goal attempt was no good, so North Murray took over at the 20 yard line. Elijah Weaver made the first tackle and Tucker Dockery made the next stop, but not before a Mountaineer first down. CJ Reece made the next stop in the backfield for a three yard loss. But the hosts would connect on a long pass down field for six points. The PAT was good to tie the gameat 7-7.
The Mountaineer kickoff landed at the 25 yard line and the Rebels took over at the 24. After a few passes and a couple runs, Sullivan made his way into the endzone for the Rebels. Sullivan’s touchdown plus Ponton’s extra point put the Rebels in the lead 14-7.
Despite defensive efforts by Reece, Taylor, Weaver and Born, a quarterback keep led to a touchdown for the hosts. A holding call on a two-point attempt called for a replay. The kick was good, tying the game late in the second quarter at 14-14, where the half would end.
North Murray came out in the second half, receiving the kickoff and marching down the field to take a 21-14 lead.
Cole Stevenson returned the kick for three yards to start a drive for the Rebels, but the visitors were forced to give up the ball with a punt.
Sullivan, Born, and Paskill worked hard for big stops, but the Mountaineer quarterback found a receiver in the back of the end zone to add six. Their kick was up and good for a 28-14 advantage.
After the kickoff, the North Murray defense rose to the occasion and forced another Rebel punt.
This time the tide turned in the Rebels’ favor when Holloway recovered a Mountaineer fumble at the 38 yard line. One step at a time, Sullivan, Callihan and Born move the ball downfield before Callihan crosses the goal line from less than one yard out. With Ponton’s PAT, the Rebels had 21 on the board to the Mountaineers 28.
North Murray took the kickoff and began a drive that ended with a field goal from the 10 yard line adding three more. They led 31-21 with five and a half minutes left in the game.
Fannin County struck back after the kickoff and marched toward the goal line with Sullivan finishing the drive. Combined with Ponton’s extra point, the Rebels pulled to within three at 31-28.
Ponton’s kick sailed to the 20 yard line and Cheatham made the tackle at the 22 then a run earned North Murray the first down, bringing a close to the contest.
The Rebels will be back in action on their home field Friday, October 20, against Murray County High School for their last regular season home game. Kick off will be at 7:30 p.m. at FCHS Stadium.