The Fannin County Football team hosted Lumpkin County Friday, November 1, for a region battle.
With a win for Fannin, it would punch their ticket to a second consecutive State Playoff appearance and that’s just what the Rebels did as they topped the Lumpkin County Indians 35-14 in front a big homecoming crowd.
Senior running back Treylyn Owensby also collected his 1,000th rushing yard of the season in the victory.
The Rebels got the ball to start the game as they returned the kickoff to their own 40-yard line.
After a negative play, Owensby plowed into Indian territory with a 21-yard run to Lumpkin’s 45-yard line.
A 10-yard run by Owensby and a Indian penalty then set the ball up at Lumpkin’s 30-yard line.
After a negative play, Owensby found a hole and ran 31-yards to paydirt for a Rebel score.
After the good extra point by senior kicker Sarah Sosebee, the Rebels led Lumpkin County 7-0 with 10 minutes to go in the first.
Lumpkin brought the Rebels kick out to their own 35-yard line as they tried to move the sticks.
The Rebels defense clamped down as the Indians punted on fourth and 11 at their own 34-yard line.
Quarterback Luke Holloway, Seth Reece and Owensby ran the ball to gain a first down for the Rebels and put the ball at their own 33-yard line.
Holloway then dropped back and found Reece through the air on a catch that moved the ball to the Indian’s 36-yard line.
Owensby was able to punch his way in on the next play from 36-yards out for his second rushing touchdown of the night. After the Sosebee extra point the Rebels led 14-0 with 6:41 to go in the first quarter.
The Indians got the ball back at their own 42-yard line and started to find a rhythm. Big defensive stops by Andre Bivens, Miles Johnson, Micah O’Neal, Will Mosely and Jakob Tuggle put the Indians in a fourth in four situation at the Rebel’s seven yard line.
After a few timeouts, the Indians ran the Philly special and was able to score on a seven yard touchdown pass to slice the Rebel’s lead.
After the extra point the Rebels led 14-7 with 1:39 to go in the first quarter.
The Rebels got the ball back at their own 35-yard line as Holloway and the Rebels offense set up shop. Owensby muscled his way to the Indian’s 48-yard line two plays later and Holloway then scrambled to the 36-yard line for another first down. Owensby and Holloway continued to run the ball until the Rebels were first and goal at the four yard line.
Mosely pushed through on the very next play for a four yard touchdown run to give the Rebels a 21-7 lead after the extra point with 9:18 to go in the first half.
The Indians got the ball back and tried to make something happen, but Tuggle and Dalton Ross held Lumpkin, forcing a punt.
The teams traded possessions once holding each other scoreless as the Rebels got the ball back.
The Rebels utilized wideout Carson Beavers, as well as running back Treylyn Owensby to get the ball in the redzone.
From second and goal from the one yard line, Holloway ran a quarterback sneak for another Rebel touchdown. After the Sosebee kick, Fannin led 28-7 where the score remained until halftime.
The Indians got the ball to start the third quarter and the Rebels held them, giving the ball back to the Fannin offense.
Fannin started at their own 37-yard line as Owensby broke off a big run to Lumpkin’s 39-yard mark.
Owensby and Mosely got the Rebels to the Indian’s 21-yard line before Holloway dropped back and found Bivens on a 21-yard touchdown strike through the air.
After the good extra point the Rebels led 35-7 with 7:27 to go in the third.
Neither team scored again until the 8:09 mark of the fourth quarter when Lumpkin County threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to trim the lead 35-14 after the extra point.
Neither team scored again the remainder of the game as the Rebels picked up a big region win and will make an appearance in the state playoffs for the second straight year.