The Fannin County Rebel football team’s offense was powerful Friday, October 1, when the Rebels took on Pepperell in front of their home crowd.
The Rebels were able to slay the Dragons 40-14 after trailing Pepperell 7-0 early in the first. The Rebels kicked off to start the game as Pepperell’s offense took the field at their own 21-yard line.
The Rebel defense had no answers for the Dragons on the first drive as Pepperell marched down the field and punched it in on a 17-yard touchdown run. After the good extra point, the Dragons jumped out to a 7-0 with 7:54 to go in the first.
The Pepperell score would be the last time they saw the endzone until the fourth quarter.
The Rebels got the ball at their own 18-yard line as Fannin had its own three-headed dragon with Seth Reece in at quarterback, while Cason Owensby and Bryson Holloway were in at running back.
Owensby started Fannin off with a nice 14-yard run to move the chains to the Rebel 32 yard line. Reece plowed 18 yards on the next play off of a quarterback keeper to move the chains to the 50 yard line.
Owensby got the next carry and ran behind the stout offensive line and broke off six yards, followed by a 20-yard quarterback run by Reece to place the ball at Pepperell’s 24-yard line.
Reece and Holloway worked the Rebels down to the 18-yard line before they found themselves in a fourth and three situation at the Dragons 18 yard line.
Fannin elected to go for it and Reece muscled his eight yards on a quarterback keeper to give Fannin a fresh set of downs. Owensby ran the ball for five yards to get to the eight yard line before Reece punched the ball in on an eight-yard quarterback run. After the Jack Kantner extra point, the Rebels tied the game 7-7 with 2:54 to go in the first.
Pepperell got the ball at their own 32 to start their drive, but Fannin’s defense locked the Dragons down and forced a quick punt with help from a big play by Ricardo Arrellanes.
Pepperell punted and Fannin got the ball back as Owensby began to work, running to the Dragons 34 yard line.
Reece broke off a seven yard run, followed by a nice pass to Hayden Lynch for 23 yards to put the Rebels at the Dragons’ four yard line to end the first quarter.
Owensby would not be denied on the next play as he forced his way into the endzone for a touchdown. After the Kantner extra point, the Rebels took a 14-7 lead over Pepperell.
The Dragons got the ball back, but Bryan Stiles, Owensby, Nate Maloof and Sawyer Moreland made big plays for the Rebel defense to force a punt.
The Rebels returned the punt to the Dragons 44 yard line as Reece broke off a 16-yard quarterback run. Carson Collis caught a two yard pass, followed by a quarterback keeper from Reece and a seven yard catch from Lynch to get the Rebels at the Dragons 20 yard line. Reece ran for five yards, followed by Holloway running for two yards to get to the Dragons 12 yard line before Holloway finagled his way to the endzone for a 13-yard touchdown.
After the extra point, the Rebels led 21-7 with 5:05 to go in the second quarter.
Pepperell tried to generate offense, but Logan Long denied the Dragons with a huge tackle for loss to make it fourth and 23 at their own 34 yard line. Both teams traded possessions before the Rebels got the ball back with 1:07 to go before halftime. The Rebels worked their way to the Dragons 44 yard line, before Reece pulled a flea flicker and chucked the ball to Corbin Davenport for a 44 yard touchdown pass. The extra point was blocked, as the Rebels stretched their lead 27-7, where the score remained until halftime.
The Rebels got the ball to start the third quarter and after a few plays, Fannin could not move the chains and turned the ball over on downs. Pepperell got the ball back, but the Rebel defense was too much as they forced a punt.
Fannin got the ball back at their own 32 yard line as Reece and Holloway began to move the chains. The Rebels got to the 23 yard line before the Dragons held to force Fannin to attempt a field goal. Pepperell blocked the punt and returned the kick to their own 48 yard line.
The Dragons converted off the good field position, scoring on a 19-yard touchdown pass to cut into the Rebels lead. After the good extra point, Fannin led 27-14 with 10:12 to go in the fourth.
Both teams traded possessions before Fannin got the ball back with around four minutes to go and put the nail in the coffin with a four yard touchdown run from Reece. The two-point conversion was no good as the Rebels led 33-14 with 2:30 to go in the game.
Pepperell tried to make a comeback, but Carson Collis got a huge interception to set the Rebels up at the Dragons 40-yard line. Carson Callihan left no doubt as he rumbled his way into the endzone on a 40-yard touchdown run and after the extra point, the Rebels led 40-14, where the score remained until the game was over.
Reece finished the game with 128 passing yards and one touchdown through the air.
Reece also had 161 yards rushing and two touchdowns on the ground.
Owensby rushed for 88 yards, while Holloway ran for 70 and Carson Callihan for 40.
Dominant offensive line play was obvious as the Rebels totaled 359 yards on the ground and five touchdowns.
The Rebel defense gave up only 124 yards of total offense which included five, three-and-outs and one interception.
Logan Long had five tackles on the evening that included a tackle for loss and one quarterback pressure.Owensby and Waldrep had five tackles in the game each.
The Rebels are on a bye week this week.
October 15 they will travel to Model High School to take on the Blue Devils in a region bout. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.