Rebels: Fannin comes back from slow first half start
The Fannin County High School Rebels football team earned their second scrimmage win 48-33 over White County Friday night, August 9, in Blue Ridge.
The win came after a slow first half.
The Rebels started the game on offense at their 20 yard line. The drive stopped when a loose ball at the 43 yard line was recovered by a White County Warriors.
The Warriors marched down the field, but the Rebel defense stiffened and White County was forced to turn the ball over on downs on yard short of the goal line.
The Rebels next possession ended with a punt.
A long pass resulted in White County’s first seven points.
The Rebels’ first half woes continued as they were again forced to punt and White County took over at the 40 yard line. The visitors used the field position to march downfield for another seven points and a 14-0 lead.
The next drive ended with another Rebel punt.
The Warriors offensive took over at the 47 yard line. Case Holloway made the initial contact on the first play and a loose Warrior ball was recovered by Luke Holsonback at the 38 yard line. The Rebels capitalized with a Lawson Sullivan pass to Brayden Taylor for the first Rebel touchdown of the game. Matthew Ponton’s extra point flew through the cross bars to put seven points to the Rebels’ side of the score board.
The next Warrior possession resulted in a punt.
Carson Callihan broke loose on a 50 yard run for a score. Ponton’s extra point tied up the score 14 to 14.
The following Warrior drive saw another touchdown, but the Rebel line blocked the extra point. The score stood at 20-14 in Warrior favor.
The Rebels weren’t able to capitalize on the next drive, turned the ball over, and the Warriors added another touchdown and an extra point. The score was 14-27.
The Warriors started the second half on the 20 yard line. A Rebel stop and two incomplete passes brought up fourth down, and the Rebels took over.
After a one-yard gain by Callihan, Sullivan took it himself over 50 yards for six points. Ponton’s extra point was good making the score 21-27.
On their drive, the Warriors were forced to punt, and Brody Burnette returned the ball to the Warrior 29 yard line. But a fumble stopped the Rebels.
The Rebel defense rose to the task and forced a punt.
Quarterback Nate O’Neal ended the drive when he took it to the end zone for six Rebels points. Adia Galloway’s extra point sailed through the crossbars giving the Rebels their first lead of the game late in the third quarter 28-27.
Zach Nelson recovered a White County fumble to stop the visitors.
Marching down the field, an O’Neal pass to Cannon Holloway added six more points to the Rebel total. Galloway’s extra was good putting the Rebels at 35 to White County’s 27.
Galloway’s kick off was knocked loose and recovered by Braden Walker at the 15 yard line, and Fannin took over.
Ryan Preston scored and Galloway’s extra point put Fannin up 42-27.
The Warriors came back to score six, bringing the score to 42-33.
On the next drive, O’Neal got in the end zone for another Rebel touchdown making the score 48-43.
Cantrell and Justin Anderson made the final defensive stops against White County Cayden to seal the 48-33 win for the Rebels.
The Fannin Rebels will officially open their season at Gilmer County High School Friday, August 16. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.