The Fannin Rebels football team punched their ticket to the Sweet Sixteen playoffs with their Friday night 28-13 victory over Athens Academy.
The game began with Fannin’s Bryson Holloway returning the Spartan kickoff ten yards to the 23 yard line. Carries by Corbin Davenport and Holloway couldn’t produce a first down. A Jack Kantner punt sailed to the 35 yard line.
Stops by Braden Taylor, Clay Heaton, and Logan Long and Nate Maloof, plus good pass defense, left the Spartans with fourth down before a Spartan runner made his way around the outside for a first down.
On the next series, Jeremy Tammen stopped the ball carrier for a yard gain. Taylor was able to run the next ball carrier out of bounds but not before a first down at the 37 yard line in Rebel territory.
Despite big defensive stops by Davenport, Andrew Waldrep, and Cooper Hilliard, the Spartans marched down the field to score and led 7-0 with just over three minutes left in the first quarter.
Runs by Davenport and Holloway, and a pass from Elijah Weaver to Holloway gave the Rebels a first down. Then Davenport squeezed through the line and made it past the secondary for a 51 gain all the way to Athens Academy’s 11 yard line. Davenport finished the drive with a touchdown run and Kantner booted the extra point to even up the score at 7- 7.
Kantner’s kickoff touched down in the end zone, and the Spartans took over at the 20 yard line. Stops by Taylor and Tammen forced a fourth down and a Spartan punt.
The Rebels started at their 15 yard line. The Rebels drove down the field behind Davenport’s running and a Davenport to Carson Collis pass before Davenport crossed the goal line for a touchdown on a second and four. Kantner’s extra point put the Rebels up 14-7.
The Rebels stopped the Spartans next drive when Lawson Sullivan made the read and picked off an Athens Academy pass at the 33 yard line.
The Rebels couldn’t convert the turnover into points, and Kantner punted it away and Taylor downed it at the five.
Tough defense led by Taylor, Waldrep, Tammen and Davenport led to the Rebels taking the ball back on downs as the half ended.
After receiving Kantner’s kickoff, the Spartans marched down the field to close the gap to within one at 14-13 after the extra point attempt failed.
The kickoff fell into the end zone, and the Rebel offense soon found itself with a fourth and long. Kantner’s punt was downed at the 34 yard line. Waldrep and Taylor made the stop for a five yard loss. Long swatted down a pass, and the Rebels pushed the hosts back two more yards. Davenport was able to make the tackle to bring up fourth and 16. The punt touched down at the nine yard line.
Davenport carried the ball for two yards to end the quarter as the Rebels began a touchdown march.
Davenport connected with Collis who carried the ball to midfield. Davenport kept it and ran it through the defense to the 21, then Holloway carried it for five. Davenport powered through the middle to get a first down and bring up first and goal. He finished the drive with a touchdown and Kantner’s extra point sailed through the cross bars. The Rebels lead stood at 21-13.
Kantner booted the kickoff into the end zone to put the Spartans at the 20 yard line. Clay Heaton was in textbook coverage as the first pass fell incomplete. Long made the stop but a penalty pushed the Spartans forward. A pass connected and was enough for a first down at the 48 yard line. Waldrep and Maloof ran the quarterback out of bounds and a penalty on the Spartans pushed them back further. A long pass earned the Spartans the first down, then Heaton made a stop. Long wrapped up the quarterback for a loss of four yards. A quick pass put the Spartans eight yards away from the goal line. Taylor made the first stop then Sullivan made the next allowing no gain. Born made the stop for fourth.
The field goal was very short and Sullivan came up with the ball running it to the 38 before a penalty on the Spartans pushed the Rebels up ten more yards. Davenport carried the ball six yards then again for a first down. He gained six then finished the drive with a touchdown. Kantner’s extra point was good and the Rebels extended their lead to 28-13.
Kantner’s kick sailed into the end zone and the Spartans took over at the 20 yard line.
Born made the tackle after a long pass then Waldrep sacked the quarterback for a loss of five. An incomplete pass brought up fourth and long. A few Rebels tripped up the quarterback and Long finished the job but not before a first down. A false start pushed the hosts back five, then an incomplete pass and another penalty brought up second and 15. Two more incomplete passes put the Spartans at fourth and long. Waldrep sacked the quarterback at the 49 yard line, forcing a Spartan turnover on downs.
Davenport broke away around the outside and got to the 20 yard line where the game ended and the Rebels brought home the 28-13 victory.
The Rebels will travel to Hogansville to play Callaway Friday, November 18. The kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.