Fannin came back from 28-7 deficit
A victory might have seemed totally out of reach for the Fannin County Rebels Friday night, trailing visiting Model 28-7 with barely more than nine minutes left on the clock.
But not until the clock ticked to zero and a last second effort at a two-point conversion fell short would the outcome of a rainy Region 7-AA match up in Blue Ridge be determined.
The Rebels had fought their way back, coming up just shy as Model traveled home with a hard earned 28-27 win.
Fannin County received the opening kickoff with Braxton Cheatham returning the ball to the 35 yard line. Despite the rain that would dampen the entire first half, Lawson Sullivan’s first pass to Cooper Born was complete and picked up a first down at the 49 yard line in Blue Devil territory.
Carson Callihan took the ball for his first run of the game but lost three yards. He made up for the loss with a first down. Sullivan carried three times and the Rebels had a first down at the Model 26 yard line.
Callihan broke free of the Model defense for a first and goal at the one yard line . Two plays later Sullivan kept it for the game’s first score, putting six on the board. Matthew Ponton’s extra point was good giving the Rebels an early 7-0 lead.
Ponton’s kickoff was returned to the 40 yard line, and the Rebel defense stepped up to shut down Model’s attack. Tucker Dockery made the first stop at the line of scrimmage then Noah Burnett made the next stop at the line bringing up third and ten. Born made his way through the Model line to rush the quarterback for an incomplete pass.
The Blue Devils punt backed the Rebels up to their own five yard line.
After a first down, an interception gave Model the ball at the 25 yard line. Braden Taylor and CJ Reece made the stop after a four yard gain. Model pounded the ball toward the goal line, but the quarter ended 7-0 in Fannin’s favor.
The Blue Devils started the second quarter with second and four from the goal line. After a Burnett tackle for a six yard loss, the Model quarterback found a receiver in the end zone for a Blue Devil touchdown. The extra point went through the uprights and tied the game up at 7-7.
Defense ruled for both teams on the next two series as the Rebels and Blue Devils exchanged punts.
On the third exchange, the Rebels were forced to punt again and the ball rolled out of bounds at the 35 yard line. An incomplete pass followed by a quarterback keep put the Blue Devils in the end zone. The score plus the extra point gave the visitors a 14-7 lead with just four minutes left in the half.
After three first downs, the Rebels found themselves facing fourth and six, but an incomplete pass gave the Blue Devils the ball with 10 seconds left in the half.
But that was all the time the visitors needed to add seven points for a 14-7 halftime lead.
To start the half, Ponton booted it to the 23 yard line and the Model returner ran for five yards. Model drove down the field, ending the drive with a one-yard touchdown run and extra point to go up 21-7
After the kickoff, the Rebels were again forced to punt and Model took over their own 23 yard line. Stops by the defensive line and Born were followed by a Holloway quarterback sack that left the visitors with fourth and 10.
The punt left Fannin at Model’s 47 yard line. But, again, the offense couldn’t move the ball and a punt left Mode at their own 11 yard line.
As the third quarter ended, Model was beginning a drive that would end early in the fourth with a touchdown and extra point, and 28-7 lead.
After the kickoff the Rebels responded.
Cheatham returned the kick to the 26 yard line. Runs by Callihan and Sullivan moved the ball downfield then, on fourth down from the 12, Sullivan scored a touchdown, Ponton added the extra point, and the Rebels trailed 28-14.
The Blue Devils couldn’t move on the next series as Reece made the first stop and the defensive line made the next. An incomplete pass brought up fourth down, forcing Model to punt.
The Rebels took over at their 18 yard line with just under five minutes left in the game. Sullivan’s long pass hit Callihan at the 45 yard line in Blue Devil territory. Three Sullivan keeps led to three first downs and Callihan finished the drive with a touchdown. Ponton’s extra point was good and the Rebels had added seven, closing Model’s advantage 28-21.
Model would turn the ball over on downs on the next series, setting the Rebels up at the 33 yard line. Sullivan looked to pass deep but it fell incomplete. Sullivan connected with Born for a six yard gain. Sullivan kept it for a yard bringing up fourth and three. Taylor found a hole and Sullivan’s pass connected for a first down. Two incomplete passes were followed by a 15 yard Sullivan run. Sullivan connected with Dockery for a four yard gain. A pass fell incomplete then Sullivan broke away for a touchdown adding six points. Now trailing only 28-27, the Rebels went for two points, but the pass fell incomplete as the clock ticked down to end the game.
The Rebels will be back in Region 7AA action at North Murray High School Friday, October 13 kick off at 7:30 p.m. in Chatsworth, Georgia.