Offense and defense was firing on all cylinders for the Fannin County Rebels as they scored quickly and often for a 42-7 win against the Hayesville Yellow Jackets Friday, August 13.
The Yellow Jackets received the ball first in the scrimmage, but the Rebels’ defense led by Ricardo Arellanes, Jeremy Tammen and Andrew Waldrep forced Haysville to punt after several big stops.
Fannin received the ball at their own 34-yard line as quarterback David Mashburn led his offense onto the field.
Seth Reece started at running back for the Rebels and gained eight yards on his first run attempt to put the Rebels second and two at their own 42.
Carson Collis had a big catch on the next play to put the Rebels at the Yellow Jackets’ 46-yard line for another first down.
Reece broke off another four-yard run and Mashburn made it to the 35-yard line on a quarterback keeper, and then down to the 32-yard line. Carter Mann had a nice catch for three yards to put Fannin at third and three at Hayesville’s 29-yard line, and Reece muscled a run to the 25 yard line before Mashburn scampered around the Hayesville defense to the edge and walked the tight rope into the endzone on a 25-yard touchdown run.
Jack Kantner’s field goal was good for the Rebels as Fannin jumped out to a 7-0 lead with 6:56 to go in the first quarter.
Hayesville got the kickoff and started at their own 35-yard line, but was unable to move the chains as they punted back to Fannin. The Rebels took over at their own 41-yard line, as Reece began moving the chains on the ground. Mashburn later found Sawyer Moreland to move the ball out to Hayesville’s 43-yard line, and Bryson Holloway caught a nine-yard pass on the next play.
Reece ran and one play later caught a pass before speedster Austin Garland ran for six yards to put the Rebels at the 25-yard line. Mashburn loaded up on the next play and found Corbin Davenport on a 25-yard touchdown heave, and after the field goal, the Rebels led 14-0 with 1:39 to go in the first.
Hayesville got the ball at their own 35-yard line, but penalties plagued the Yellow Jackets’ drive and forced them to punt. Fannin got the ball at their own 44-yard line and Garland quickly ran to Hayesville’s 25-yard line. Hayden Lynch and Khole Green got Fannin to the 20-yard line before a couple of penalties and incomplete passes put Fannin at fourth and 17 from the Yellow Jackets 33-yard line.
Fannin went for it on fourth down and were unsuccessful as Hayesville took over from their own 33.
Hayesville got nine yards in three tries to make it fourth and one from their own 41. The Yellow Jackets went for it but were unable to convert as Fannin took over. The Rebels’ offensive linemen started moving the line of scrimmage allowing Reece, Green and Mashburn to get the the Yellow Jackets’ four-yard line. Reece would not be denied on the next play as he exploded into the endzone on a four-yard touchdown gallop, and after the Kantner extra point, the Rebels led 21-0 with 5:26 to go in the second quarter.
Hayesville got the ball, but were unable to score as the Rebels got the ball back and started moving the chains. Hayden Lynch, Easton Chancey, Bryson Holloway and Cade Sands made some big catches to put the Rebels at the Yellow Jacket’s one-yard line. Reece easily made his way into the endzone on the next play on a one-yard touchdown run, and after the field goal by Kantner, the Rebels led 28-0 where the score remained until halftime.
Fannin received the ball to start the third quarter and put the nail in the coffin as they moved down the field and Sands found the endzone on a seven-yard touchdown pass. After the good extra point, the Rebels led 35-0 with 9:37 to go in the third.
Hayesville could not generate any offense against Fannin’s defense as the Rebels got the ball back at Hayesville’s 36-yard line. Luke Bright came in at quarterback as the Rebels offense continued to roll. Green had a couple of big gains, and Jackson Davis later capped the drive with a one-yard touchdown run.
After the extra point, the Rebels held a 42-0 lead with 5:13 to go in the third quarter where the score remained until Hayesville scored on a 17-yard touchdown pass.The Yellow Jackets made the extra point to cut into the lead 42-7 with 8:30 to go in the game. Neither team scored again in the game as the Rebels claimed a 42-7 victory over Hayesville.
The Rebels will officially start the season Friday, August 20, as they host the Union County Panthers. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.