The Fannin County Rebel football team stepped on their home field Friday, October 9, and was able to string together a powerful first half to take a 57-6 win over the Gordon Central Warriors.
The Rebels got the ball first to start the game as the Warriors kicked the ball to the Rebels’ 45-yard line. Quarterback Luke Holloway and the Rebels offense wasted no time getting on the board as Holloway found Jalin Ingram on a 55-yard touchdown pass on the very first play of the game. Jack Canter’s extra point was good as the Rebels quickly claimed a 7-0 lead with 11:42 to go in the first.
Gordon Central got the ball at their own 30-yard line, but could not move the chains. The Warriors tried punting the ball, but Seth Reece blocked the punt and Micah O’Neal recovered for a Rebel touchdown. After the good extra point, the Rebels led 14-0 with 10:10 to go in the first quarter.
The Warriors got the ball back at their own 27-yard line, but the Rebels defense did not give up a first down. Cohutta Hyde returned the Warriors punt to the Warriors’ 41-yard line as the Rebel offense took the field.
After a Caleb Postell run and Hyde catch, the Rebels were in a second and five situation at the Warrior 21-yard line. Holloway broke off a 7-yard run to the Warriors 14-yard line before a Fannin penalty put the Rebels back at the 18-yard line. Postell trucked his way over defenders on a 9-yard sprint, and on the next play erupted for a 9-yard touchdown run. After the extra point, the Rebels led 21-0 with 5:17 to go in the first quarter.
The Warriors got the ball back and began moving the chains, making it to the Rebels 38-yard line. Big stops by Andrew Waldrep and Carter Mann kept Gordon Central from scoring as O’Neal knocked the ball out on a sack and was able to recover it to give the Rebels’ offense the ball back at their own 46-yard line to end the first quarter.
On the very first play of the second quarter, Holloway scanned the field and found Bivens over the top for a 56-yard airmail touchdown. After the extra point, the Rebels clinged to a 28-0 cushion with 11:49 to go in the second quarter.
Fannin punted back to Gordon Central, but the Warriors’ offense stalled as James Mercer, Hyde and O’Neal made some big stops to force a punt.
The Rebels took over at their own 42-yard line as Postell and Holloway began running the ball. Fannin got to the Warriors’ 30-yard line and was able to score on a third down attempt as Holloway found Hyde for a 30-yard touchdown strike. After the extra point. Fannin led 35-0 with 7:51 to go in the second.
The Warriors got the ball at their own 30-yard line, but were unable to move the chains as they punted back to the Rebels.
Bivens brought the punt out to the Warriors 37-yard line. Seth Reece was able to get the ball to the 35-yard line before Holloway connected with Hyde on a 35-yard touchdown pass. After the extra point, the Rebels led 42-0 with 4:17 to go in the first half.
The Warriors got the ball back as Bivens made another big play, intercepting the ball and taking it to the Warriors’ 5-yard line. Reece muscled his way to paydirt on the next play and after the extra point, the Rebels took a commanding 49-0 lead, where the score remained until halftime.
The Rebels kept the hot hand in the second half, as the Rebels defense forced a fumble, and Cade Sands scooped and scored for a Rebel touchdown. The Rebels went for two, and Carter Mann converted to make it 57-0 with nine minutes to go in the third quarter.
Gordon Central was able to score with around nine minutes to go in the fourth quarter. The Warriors missed the extra point as the Rebels led 57-6, where the score remained until the final buzzer as the Rebels came away with the big win.