The Fannin County Rebels put 42 points on the scoreboard for a shutout win in their first region match up this year.
The 42-0 victory came over the visiting Gordon Central Warriors at the Fannin High stadium Friday night.
Fannin’s Braxton Cheatham got the Rebels started at their own 35 with his return of the opening kickoff. Carson Callihanand quarterback Lawson Sullivan took turns carrying the ball downfield before Callihan finished the drive with a touchdown. Matthew Ponton’s extra point was good making the score 7-0 in the Rebels favor. Those would be all the points they needed for the win, but they were a long ways off from leaving the scoreboard silent.
After Ponton made the stop at the 49 yard line after kicking off, Brody Paskill made a tackle and Luke Holsonback was in coverage for an incomplete pass. After the Warrior punt didn’t travel and fell out of bounds, the Rebels began their second touchdown drive.
Callihan capped the drive with a 21-yard touchdown run after he and Sullivan churned out first downs on the way to the endzone.
Ponton’s kick was good for the extra point, putting the Rebels up 14-0 with just over five minutes left in the first quarter.
CJ Reece made the initial hit for a kickoff stop at the 13 yard line. A big stop by Jacob Green and tight pass coverage by Conrad Head brought up third down.
After the Warriors failed to get past the down marker, the punt made traveled to midfield.
The Rebels collected two quick first down on a Sullivan keeper to the 33 yard line and a pass to Elijah Weaver. A pair of Braden Taylor runs put the Rebels three yards away from the goal line. Sullivan kept it for the score and the ball sailed through the crossbars for Ponton’s extra point. The Rebels extended their lead to 21-0.
Ponton’s kick touched down in the end zone and Gordon Central started at the 25 yard line. Baylor Twiggs made the stop for loss in the backfield. A Twiggs rush led to an incomplete pass. After a Weaver stop for fourth down, the Warrior punt traveled 15 yards, giving the Rebels good field position at the 43 yard line.
Sullivan and Callihan again moved the ball downfield before Callihan finished the drive with a touchdown as the second quarter got underway. Ponton’s pass to Paskill for the two point conversion put the Rebels up 29-0.
Weaver stopped the ball carrier at the 44 after a long Warrior return. Born made the next stop then Taylor wrapped up the quarterback for loss.
The Warriors converted the fourth down, but the Rebels soon shut down the Warrior offense to bring up fourth down. Twiggs sacked the Warrior quarterback to put the Rebel offense on at midfield.
Sullivan broke away for a 30 yard run to the 26 yard line then combined on a pass to Tucker Dockery for a six yard gain. Sullivan found the end zone then Ponton put in his extra point. The Rebels led 36-0.
Holsonback made the tackle on the kickoff at the 23 yard line. Reece swatted the ball down then Case Holloway held on for a quarterback sack for a five yard loss.
After the Warrior punt, Taylor carried the ball to the 32 yard line for the first down. Reece carried the ball three straight times, crossing the goal line of the third carry for a 42-0 Fannin lead, where the first half scoring would end.
Born and Holsonback made the stop. Then the Holsonback and Cheatham duo wrapped up the next carrier. Born made the last stop of the half.
The second half saw many of Fannin’s younger players get important playing experience.
Ponton kicked off to the 10 yard line to start the half then Judah Wood made the stop at the 23 yard line. Odin Gutierrez and Barron Davenport made the next two stops for Fannin. Scott Waldrep made the next defensive play for the Rebels followed by a stop by Wood.
The Warriors punted and Fannin took over at the 12 yard line.
Wood paced the offense with multiple runs including a 30-yard gain that wass called by by a penalty.
Wood’s eight-yard carry finished the third quarter.
More runs by Wood and a gain by quarterback Nate O’Neal moved the ball downfield before the Rebels turned it over on downs at the 29 yard line, where the score and the game ended.
Fannin County will have a bye this week and will be back in action against Model High School Friday, October 6, at FCHS Stadium.