The Fannin County High School Rebels football team opened their 2023 season with a loss to Union County, putting up 12 points to the Panthers’ 50.
Carson Callihan returned the opening kickoff to the 26-yard line to start the game in front of the Rebels’ hometown crowd.
On the Rebels second play from scrimmage, a fumble recovery put Union County in excellent field position.
Jacob Dye and Callihan made the first stop on the first play, but the Panthers punched in a touchdown and added an extra point with less than two minutes gone in the game.
Callihan returned the kickoff to the Rebels’ 28-yard line. Fannin County began a march downfield capped off by a 31-yard run by Lawson Sullivan for a touchdown.
The extra point attempt was no good making the score 7-6 in Union’s favor.
Matthew Ponton booted the kickoff to the 10 yard line and Elijah Weaver made the stop at the 26-yard line.
Brody Paskill, Noah Burnett, Cooper Born, Callihan, Baylor Twiggs and Elijah Weaver made big defense plays against the Panthers, but the visitors went up 14-6 with just over three minutes left in the first quarter.
Taylor took the kickoff back to the 24-yard line for the Rebels. After two Rebel first downs, the Panthers recovered another fumble and moved to within six yards of the goal line. The Rebel defense, Born, Jacob Dye, Case Holloway, and a host of Rebels worked hard and kept the Panthers from crossing the goal line as the clock ticked down to bring up the second quarter. The offense took over at the four-yard line.
Then it was Union’s defense that stiffened and the Rebels punted the ball to the 31-yard line. After defensive stops by Reece, Burnett, Taylor and Luke Holsonback, Born made the read and jumped for a Fannin interception at the 16-yard line.
But the offense was held and the Rebels were forced to punt.
Again the Rebels defense stiffened and Fannin took over at the 12-yard line.
After possession changed again, the Panthers made their way downfield for another touchdown. Their extra point was good, giving the visitors a 21-6 advantage with three minutes to go in the half.
Callihan returned the kickoff then Sullivan hit Taylor for a gain of six. The next run was stopped cold by Union County and a failed pass attempt resulted in a punt by Sullivan that put Union at the 41-yard line. After defensive stops by Holsonback, Callihan and Born, a long pass downfield followed by a quick run led to a Union touchdown with a good extra point. The score was 28-6, which held up until halftime.
Union County put seven more points on the board on their first possession of the third quarter.
Union ran it in for another touchdown and put in their extra point for a 35-6 lead.
The Rebels next possession saw Fannin turn the ball over on downs, which Union used to put another touchdown on the board.
Callihan returned the kickoff to the 15-yard line. A long run by Callihan and a Sullivan to Callihan pass were big plays as the Rebles moved the ball to first and goal. But a fumble gave the ball back to the Panthers on the five-yard line.
Conrad Head made the tackle for loss and Born made the stop for the fourth down.
Callihan returned the punt to the Union 38-yard line. Reece picked up five yards to end the third quarter.
The Rebels marched down the field and Sullivan punched the ball in from inches away for a Rebel touchdown. The two-point try was no good, leaving the Panthers on top 42-12.
Twiggs made the stop at the 35-yard line on the kickoff. Holsonback, Case Holloway, Braxton Cheatham and Karson Brown all made defensive stops as the Panthers made their way down the field.
Union found themselves in the end zone again adding six more points, and their two-point converson was caught in the end zone, tallying the score up to 50-12 to end the game.
The Rebels will be back in action on their home field against the Gilmer Bobcats this Friday, August 25, with kick-off at 7:30 p.m.