The Fannin Rebels secured a playoff spot with a 49-28 win over Haralson County Thursday, November 3, at Fannin County Stadium.
Jack Kantner drove the opening kickoff to the five yard line, and Andrew Waldrep stopped the ball carrier at the 10. Waldrep, Nate Maloof, Braden Taylor, Jeremy Tammen and Cooper Born stepped up on defense and Haralson found themselves with a third down. Logan Long made the big hit behind the line of scrimmage to force a Haralson punt on fourth down.
Corbin Davenport started the Fannin offensive drive with a four yard run. Then, Elijah Weaver connected to Davenport for a first down. On the next play, Weaver hit Carson Collis for another first down and Bryson Holloway ran the for yet another first down. Holloway carried again for another first down within ten yards of the goal line and then finished the drive with a touchdown run. With Kantner’s extra point, the Rebels were up 7-0 halfway through the first quarter.
Kantner kicked a short ten yards for an onside kick and then recovered the ball at the 49 yard line. Weaver hit Collis for a gain of 22 yards and a Rebel first down. Davenport ran the ball for another first down to the 19 yard line. Holloway carried for six yards then finished the drive yet again with another touchdown burst. Kantner’s extra point was good putting the Rebels ahead 14-0.
The kickoff by Kantner was another onside attempt, but this time was recovered by Haralson at the 49 yard line.
On the first play, Born ran the ball carrier out of bounds after a four yard gain. A Haralson runner made it through the middle and broke away for a touchdown. The extra point was good and the Rebels held onto a 14-7 lead with four and a half minutes left in the first quarter.
Haralson tried an onside kick and recovered it at the 41 yard line. Tammen stopped the first runner and a pass by the Haralson quarterback fell incomplete with Davenport in coverage. Jacob Dye and Clay Heaton made the stop for third down with 12 to go for Haralson. Maloof and Long combined for the next stop to force a Haralson punt. The kick put the Rebels at their own 20 yard line. Khole Green ran the ball and was stopped just short of the first down. Then Davenport broke away for a 71 yard run to the end zone for six points. An extra point was put up by Kantner and the Rebels were up 21-7 with seconds left in the quarter.
Kantner’s kick sailed to the 10 yard line and CJ Reece made the special teams tackle.
Long made a tackle for loss to start the second quarter before Taylor tripped the ball carrier forcing a fourth down. Davenport’s punt return was pushed back by a penalty, leaving the Rebels at their 35 yard line. Holloway spun away from the defender to gain five, then he picked up a first down on the next play and another on the next. Weaver’s pass to Collis gained the Rebels a first down. Holloway ran through the middle and was stopped a yard short of the goal line. On the next play, he finished the drive with a touchdown. Kantner’s extra point made the score 28-7.
Kantner’s kickoff sailed into the end zone for a touchback. The Rebels defense stiffened and Haralson was forced to punt. A fumble gave Haralson the ball at the 48 yard line.
Lawson Sullivan made a big play for the Rebels when, in great coverage, he swatted away a long Haralson pass. Haralson soon found themselves with another fourth down. The punt pinned the Rebels at the four yard line.
Davenport and Holloway combined ran enough for a first down. Green carried the ball, but a penalty pushed them back. Weaver connected with Davenport for a Fannin County first down. Green picked up two, then Weaver hit Davenport long again for another first down. A few stops left the Rebels with fourth down. Kantner’s punt left Haralson at the 14 yard line. The half ended after a lone Haralson first down.
Green returned the kick for Fannin County to the 40 yard line to start the second half. Holloway marched the ball down the field on several carriers, finally crossing the goal line. Kantner’s extra point was good, and the score was 35-7 with just over nine minutes left in the third quarter.
Haralson took the kickoff and dropped down the field for a touchdown, closing the scoring gap to 35-14.
The Rebels responded and, paced by a 61-yard burst by Holloway, scored six more points when Davenport scored on a carry. Kantner’s kick went through the middle of the uprights and Fannin led 42-14.
After a Kantner kickoff that flew into the end zone, the Rebel defense forced a turnover on downs at the 43 yard line.
Slade Epperson cleared the path for Green to run the ball to the 18 yard line. A Sullivan catch was pushed back by a penalty. Weaver hit Collis to gain eight yards. The Rebels were hit with quite a few penalties, and it was fourth and long. Kantner’s field goal attempt was no good from the 43 yard line.
Haralson came back and scored six on a long pass. The extra point attempt was good, leaving the Rebels still in command at 42-21.
A fumble when the Rebels took over on offense left Haralson in good field position. But the defense stiffened, and Fannin took over on downs.
Holloway finished a four-play drive with a 40-yard touchdown run. Kantner’s extra point was true, and the Rebels led 49-21.
A Haralson runner broke away after their offense took the field for a long run for a touchdown. The extra point made the score 49-28.
The Rebels took over at their 35 yard line. Judah Wood ran the ball, but a holding penalty pushed them back ten yards. Matthew Ponton handed it off to Wood again who ran it for a yard. The Rebel offense couldn’t muster enough yardage for a first down, so Ponton punted it away to the 49 yard line. Twiggs wrapped up the ball carrier. On the next play, Brody Paskill and Braxton Cheatham pushed the ball carrier out of bounds, but not before a first down. Case Holloway made the stop to end the game.
The Rebels will travel to Athens for the first round of the state playoff against Athens Academy Friday, November 11.