Blue Ridge: The 2-0 Fannin County Rebels hosted the Union County Panthers on a muggy afternoon, Friday, September 13. The Rebels were looking for their third win of the season, but Union was able to pull out a win in the final quarter to beat the Rebels 33-14.
Union County won the toss and elected to receive the ball and brought it out to their own 48-yard line.
The Rebels defense held strong with Will Mosely, Cohutta Hyde and Jakob Tuggle getting big stops, but the Panthers were able to move the chains. Union County was later able to score on a five yard touchdown catch. After the extra point, the Panthers led 7-0 with 9:38 to go in the first quarter.
Carson Beavers brought the Panther kick out to their own 25-yard line. Quarterback Luke Holloway led his team onto the field. Mosely pounded through the Panthers defensive line for a four yard pickup to make it second and six at the 29-yard line. Treylyn Owensby then broke off a big 17-yard run to put the Rebels at their own 47-yard line for a first down.
The Rebels were unable to move the ball again and punted back to the Panthers. Union was able to move the sticks into field goal range before the Rebels held them. The Panthers decided to go for a field goal on fourth and 21 from Fannin’s 31-yard.
The Panthers missed and the Rebels got the ball back at their own 31-yard line.
Holloway kept the ball on the first play and was able to pick up 28-yards on the ground to put the Rebels at their own 48-yard line to end the first quarter.
The Rebels could not move into Union County territory after the big run and punted the ball back to the Panthers.The stout Rebel defense held the Panthers and forced a punt.
Fannin County was not able to score on the possession and punted the ball back to the Panthers. Union moved down field and found an opening on a 17-yard touchdown pass to extend their lead 13-0 after the missed extra point, where the scored stayed until halftime.
Fannin received the ball at the start of the third quarter and brought it out to their own 26-yard line.
The Rebels started moving the chains with help from Owensby and Tuggle. The Rebels stalled however, and found themselves in a fourth and two situation at their own 46-yard line. Head coach Chad Cheatham elected to go for it and Holloway broke off a quarterback keeper to the 50-yard line for a fresh set of downs for the Rebels. Holloway then dropped back and found Beavers on a 10-yard reception to put the ball at Union’s 40-yard line. Hyde caught a Holloway pass to move the Rebels to the 36-yard line and then Owensby caught a pass to move to the 28-yard line for another first down.
A Rebel turnover on the next play put the ball in the Panther’s hands at their own eight yard line.The Rebel defense played well but the Panthers were able to throw a 23-yard touchdown reception with 1:46 to go in the third to extend their lead 20-0 after the extra point.
The Rebels got the ball with great field position as Hyde had a huge return all the way to Union’s 35-yard line. After a one yard Owensby run, Holloway scampered to the 28-yard line on a quarterback carry for a third and three situation.
The Rebels could not convert on third down, but elected to go for it on fourth and three.
Holloway found JoJo Goodwin for a pass, but it was not enough to move the sticks as the Panthers took over at their own 30-yard line. The Rebel defense was able to hold thanks to a Seth Reece pass deflection and quarterback pressure from the defensive line. The Panthers punted and the Rebels got the ball at their own 46-yard line. Owensby bruised his way to the 48-yard line and Mosely broke off a big run to Union’s 24-yard line to give the Rebels a fresh set of downs. Owensby was able to run to the 19-yard line before Hyde caught a Holloway pass to the Panther’s five yard line to set up first and goal.
Mosely ran the ball to the one before Holloway rolled out and found paydirt on a one yard touchdown run. Sarah Sosebee’s extra point was good and the Rebels cut into Panther lead 20-7 with 8:54 to go in the game.
The Rebels kicked to the Panther’s with the Rebel sideline energized after the score. Fannin’s defense held Union and forced a punt as Rebel Stadium grew louder and louder with cheers.
The Rebels got the ball back at their own 22-yard line as Mosely and Owensby went to work on the ground moving the chains to the 49-yard line.
Holloway then dropped back and found Hyde on a 45-yard pass to give the Rebels a first and goal at Union’s five yard line.
Two plays later, Owensby punched it in for a score to slice the Panther’s lead. After Sosebee’s extra point, the Rebels trailed Union 20-14 with 4:40 to go.
Union was able to score quickly however on a 55-yard touchdown reception to extend the lead 26-14 after the no good two point conversion.
The Rebels got the ball back and tried to go through the air to catch up, but was unable to put points on the board.
Union County was able to score once more in the game and after the good extra point the final score was 33-14 Union County.