Rebels: Fannin Co. now 9-0
Another Friday night and another football game added up to another lopsided victory handed out by the Fannin County High School Rebels.
The Rebels rolled up win number nine in a row as they posted a 48-21 decision over the Christian Heritage High School Lions in Dalton.
The Rebels received the opening kickoff, but the drive was ended when they gave away a fumble to the Lions.
Cooper Born, Case Holloway and CJ Reece led the Rebel defense to quickly force a three-and out.
But, again, the Rebels had trouble holding on to the football. After the punt, a loose ball was recovered by the Lions at the Rebel 12 yard line.
Luke Holsonback and Tucker Dockery led the defensive effort that forced a field goal attempt that missed its mark.
Two incomplete passes brought the Rebels, next drive to a halt and a punt.
A 23-yard run and a 31-yard touchdown pass gave the Lions the first lead of the game as the extra point put the hosts up 7-0 and left Fannin County in unfamiliar territory. The Rebels have consistently grabbed the early lead this season;
The Rebels again couldn’t penetrate the Lion defense and punted the ball away.
On the punt, Christian Heritage racked up multiple penalties moving them all the way back to their 25 yard line.
Defensive plays by Reece and Scott Waldrep, combined with an incomplete pass, forced a Lion punt.
Fueled by a Carson Callihan 15-yard run on the first play, combined with a Lawson Sullivan to Reid Holloway pass and Sullivan run, the Rebels had a first down within five yards of the goal line when the quarter ended.
Callihan scored on the first play of the second quarter and Matthew Ponton added an extra punt to tie the game 7-7.
On the kickoff, the ball fell through the Lion returner’s hands, and Braxton Cheatham recovered the fumble 26 yards away from the goal line.
Callihan and Sullivan took turns running the ball before Sullivan crossed into the end zone for six, and Ponton put another point to put the Rebels up 14-0.
Taylor made a stop and Dockery broke up a pass as the defense again forced a Lion punt.
The Rebels took over at their 30 yard line. Another drive saw six points go on the board when Sullivan connected with Elijah Weaver for the touchdown. Ponton added another kick through the uprights, making the score 21-7 with time left in the second quarter.
The Lions moved down the field to score, cutting the Rebels’ advantage to 21-14 with five minutes left in the half.
The Rebels next drive ended in a punt.
The Lions possession ended on an incomplete pass as the half ended.
The Lions got the ball to start the second half, but their drive was ended when the Rebel defense forced a punt.
A 70 yard Sullivan keep added another Fannin six points. The extra point was no good, leaving Fannin in charge 27-14.
The Rebel defense, led by Taylor, Holsonback and Cooper Born stopped the Lions in their tracks and the Rebels got the ball back on a punt.
This time it was Callihan with a marathon run covering 96 yards that put the Rebels in the end zone. Cheatham ran the ball in for a two point conversion to give Fannin a 35-17 lead.
Cheatham made the next big Rebel defensive play when he intercepted a tipped ball and returned it to the Lion 46 yard line.
Despite the turnover, the Rebel drive ended with a punt.
Despite a quarterback sack by Baylor Twiggs, and another by Waldrep and Burnette, a 24-yard pass put the Lions in the end zone. Their extra point was good, and the score was 35-21 with just under nine minutes left in the game.
The Rebel offense took over at their own 31 yard line. Callihan dug in for a 15-yard run, and Sullivan took it the rest of the way with a Lion on his back to get in the end zone. The PAT was no good, leaving the score at 41-21.
On their next series, the Lions went for a first down on a fourth down attempt, but Burnette ran down the quarterback in the backfield to put the Rebels at the 34 yard line in Lion territory.
After a few lost yards, a Sullivan pass to Cannon Holloway gained 10 yards before Callihan ran the ball the rest of way for another six points. The Ponton PAT was good for a 48-21 lead.
The game ended on the Lions’ next possession.