The Fannin County High Rebels traveled to Jasper last Friday night and came back up Highway 515 with a lopsided 52-28 win over the Pickens Dragons.
Matthew Ponton kicked off to the 15 yard line for the Rebels and Cole Stevenson stopped the return at the 18 yard line. Tucker Dockery, CJ Reece and Brody Paskill combined to make tackles for losses to bring up fourth and 14.
Carson Callihan made the first run of the night for first down and then some to put the Rebels within eight yards of the goal line. He finished the drive with a score and Ponton’s extra point went straight through the uprights to put seven on the board for Fannin.
Luke Holsonback met the returner after Ponton’s kick off at the 22 yard line and a penalty pushed the Dragons back five more yards. Fourth down again came quickly for the Dragons as the Rebel defense worked yo keep the ball back. The punt left the Rebels at their 19 yard line.
The Rebels marched down the field on runs by quarterback Lawson Sullivan and Callihan, combined with Sullivan passes to Cooper Born and Brayden Taylor put Ponton in field goal range. Ponton added three points to end the first quarter with the Rebels up 10-0.
After the kickoff, the Dragons managed a first down at the Rebel 49 yard line before Tucker Dockery pulled down an interception at the Rebels’ 18 yard line.
The Rebels took over and began a march toward the end zone, which ended when Sullivan crossed the goal line. Ponton’s kick was good putting the Rebels at 17 to the Dragons’ 0.
After the kickoff, Reece made the first two stops for Fannin then Jacob Dye made the next tackle for third down. Jacob Green’s tackle brought up fourth and one. The Rebel defense held as Born made the stop at the 30 yard line.
The Rebels used their momentum to score as Sullivan completed a 30 yard pass to Elijah Weaver and with Ponton’s extra point, the Rebels’ were up 24-0.
Ponton then made and recovered an onside kick at the Dragons’ 48 yard line.
Callihan had the long run of the drive when he broke away for about 30 yards, before walking in for a two-yard touchdown. Ponton put in another extra point bringing Fannin’s total to 31.
Ponton kicked it off to the ten yard line and the Rebel defense made the stop at the 24, before the hosts marched down the field for their first touchdown, making the score 31-7.
Braxton Cheatham returned the kick to end the half.
The Dragons started the second half by recovering their own on side kick. Taylor and Holsonback made the first two stops then Taylor sacked the Dragon quarterback for a loss of four yards. Callihan made the next stop but not before a Pickens first down. Taylor protected the goal line stopping the Dragon receiver at the two yard line, but on the next play, the Dragons put the ball in the end zone for six points. The extra point attempt was good making the score 31-14.
Pickens tried for another onside kick but the ball was recovered by Case Holloway at the 49 yard line. Those 49 yards ended with another Rebel touchdown by Callihan and another extra point by Ponton. The Rebels got their 24-point lead back at 38-14.
Dockery and Paskill led the rest of the Rebel defense to hold the Dragons to fourth and 20, forcing a change of possession.
The next Rebel drive included a pass to Callihan and a long Sullivan run, capped off when Sullivan hit Taylor in the end zone for another touchdown. Ponton put in the extra point and the score was 45-21.
Ponton kicked off then made the stop and Conrad Head made a big tackle for Fannin before the Dragon quarterback found a receiver in the end zone. The extra point was good and the score was 45-21 with eight minutes left in the game.
The Rebel offense took over at midfield and scored again when Sulliva crossed the goal line. Ponton put in his field goal, giviing the Rebels a 52-21 lead.
Pickens took over and just under three minutes left in the game. They found their way into the end zone through the Rebel coverage. The Dragons put in their extra point for a total of 28.
As the clock ticked down to zero, Fannin took home a 52-28 win over the Pickens Dragons. The Rebels have a bye week Friday, September 8, and will be back in action in Murphy, North Carolina Friday, September 15, at 7:30 p.m.