The Fannin County Rebel football team are back-to-back region champions for the first time in school history. The Rebels claimed the title Friday, November 5, when they hosted Dade County in a winner takes all dog fight.
The Rebels and Wolverines had a hard-hitting game all night, but it was Fannin who came away with enough defensive stops to narrowly win the game 21-17. Seth Reece also crossed the 1,000 yard rushing mark on the season.
Fannin won the toss and elected to receive the ball to start the game. Dade County kicked the ball into the endzone as Fannin set up shop at their own 20 yard line. With David Mashburn in at quarterback, he kept the ball on the first play and ran for five yards. Workhorse Seth Reece broke off a five yard run and Mashburn later found Reece on a 30 yard pass to put the ball right at midfield.
Cason Owensby, Mashburn and Reece continued to move the chains on the ground, before Reece came in at quarterback and found Hayden Lynch on a 16 yard pass to put the Rebels at the Dade County 11 yard line. Fannin pushed to the five yard line before Reece ran it up the middle for a five yard touchdown score.
After the extra point by Jack Kantner, the Rebels took a 7-0 lead with 7:27 to go in the first quarter.
The Wolverines started at their own 20 yard line after Kantners kickoff sailed into the endzone. After stalling a few times from big plays by Corbin Davenport, Reece and Cade Sands, the Wolverines were able to find the endzone on fourth and seven as the Dade County quarterback loaded up and found a wide receiver for a 15 yard touchdown pass. After the extra point the game was tied 7-7 with 2:02 to go in the first quarter.
The Wolverines attempted an onside kick but the attempt drew penalties as Fannin started at Dade County’s 34 yard line. Fannin got to the Wolverines’ 28 yard line before going for it one fourth and four. The Rebels were unsuccessful as Dade County took over at their own 25 yard line.
The Wolverines moved the ball into the Rebels territory, but Ricardo Arellanes, Sands and Owensby had big plays to halt Dade County and put them in a fourth and eight situation. Dade County went for it and Owensby came up with the stop to turn the ball over on downs and give Fannin the ball back at its own 45 yard line.
The Rebels got to the Wolverines 23 yard line before Dade County tightened up and Fannin went for it on fourth and nine. Reece’s pass fell incomplete as the Wolverines took over at their own 23 yard line.
Dade County ended up finding a rhythm, despite big defensive plays from Jeremy Tammen and Nate Maloof, and scoring on a 38 yard touchdown pass. After the extra point Fannin trailed Dade County 14-7 where the score remained until halftime.
The Wolverines got the ball to start the third quarter and started to string a drive together. Dade County got all the way down to the Rebels’ four yard line before Fannin locked down and forced Dade to kick a field goal. The field goal attempt was good as Dade led 17-7 with 6:12 to go in the third quarter. It took Fannin just 31 seconds to answer as Reece juked and muscled his way into the endzone on a 52 yard gallop. After the extra point by Kantner, Fannin trailed Dade County 17-14 with 5:41 to go in the third.
Both teams could not score again in the third quarter, as each team punted to each other. Fannin was finally able to get the offense going in the fourth as they marched down to the Wolverine’s four yard line with help from a huge catch from Hayden Lynch. Mashburn was able to power across the goal line on the next play for a four yard touchdown run. After the extra point, Fannin reclaimed the lead 21-17 with 8:49 to go in the game.
Dade County got the ball at Fannin’s 49 yard line after a big return, but Andrew Waldrep, Tammen and Carson Collis had big plays for the Rebels’ defense and forced the Wolverines to turn the ball over on downs at the Rebels’ 43 yard line.
Fannin could not generate any offense, however, and punted back to the Wolverines with 6:35 to play in the game.
On Dade County’s first play of the possession, Waldrep jumped up and intercepted a Dade County pass with an athletic one-handed grab to give the Rebels the ball back at the Wolverine’s 32 yard line with 6:29 left to play.
Fannin was unable to move the chains and punted back to Dade County.
The Wolverines began moving the ball, but Davenport ultimately sealed the deal when he went up and intercepted a Dade County pass to give Fannin the ball back at their own 16 yard line.
The Rebels were able to get enough first downs to run the clock out as Fannin walked away with a 21-17 win and the AA Region 7 Championship.
The Rebels will host the Bremen Blue Devils Friday, November 12, in the first round of the state playoffs.