The Fannin County Rebel football team put on a show Friday, August 20, when they hosted the Union County Panthers for the first game of the 2021 season. It was the 30th all-time meeting between the two teams, as Union County led the series 15-14 before the game.
The Rebels changed that and tied the series as they handily topped the Panthers 34-7.
Fannin totaled 453 yards of total offense in the game, while on defense they forced and recovered four fumbles, had five three and outs, and one-fourth down stop.
Fannin County won the toss and elected to receive as Union County kicked off. David Mashburn and the Fannin County offense set up shop at their own 37-yard line as Seth Reece ran to the 43-yard line to make it second and four. Reece manhandled his way to the Rebel’s 47-yard line for a first down, as the Rebels started to march down the field.
The Rebels made it all the way inside the Panthers’ 10-yard line, but Union County locked down the Rebels and forced a turnover on downs as the Panthers took over from their own five-yard line.
The Rebels and the Panthers battled back and forth defensively, with Andrew Waldrep, Cason Owensby, and Carson Collis leading Fannin’s defense. After a scoreless first quarter from both sides, the Rebels kept working in the second and were able to find a rhythm as Mashburn connected on passes to Sawyer Moreland, Austin Garland and Reece to set the Rebels up at the Panthers’ eight-yard line. Mashburn capped off the drive on the next play with an eight-yard touchdown scamper, and after the extra point by Jack Kantner, the Rebels drew blood first as they led 7-0 with 3:39 to go in the first half.
The Rebels kicked off and after a touchback, Union County started at their own 20-yard line, but after a few penalties, the Panthers fumbled and Waldrep came away with the ball for Fannin as the Rebels took over from their own 45-yard line.
Bryson Holloway came alive on the drive, catching a pass to Union County’s 44-yard line. Holloway capped the drive by catching a 44-yard touchdown pass on the next play from Mashburn, and after the extra point, the Rebels led 14-0 with 1:53 to go in the second quarter, where the score remained until halftime.
The Rebel defense held the Panthers to under 60 yards of total offense in the first half.
Fannin kicked off to the Panthers to start the third quarter, as Union County started their drive from their own 23-yard line.
The Panthers made it all the way to the Rebels’ 38-yard line before the Rebels forced a fumble and Corbin Davenport recovered to give the Rebels the ball at their own 45-yard line.
Reece began to move the chains for Fannin as they made it to Union’s three-yard line. A flag on the Panthers put the Rebels right at the two-yard line, as Reece muscled his way across the goal-line for a two-yard touchdown run to extend Fannin’s lead 20-0 with 5:33 to go in the third after the missed extra point.
Union got the ball back, but the Rebels’ defensive line was too much as they forced a fumble, and Case Holloway fell on the ball at Union County’s 29-yard line.
The Rebels could not convert on offense and punted back to the Panthers. Union County struggled to get things going offensively, thanks to stout defense by Fannin and punted back to the Rebels. Davenport had a very nice punt return to Union’s 22-yard line and Reece then sealed the deal as he caught a slant pass from Mashburn for 22-yards to the endzone on the next play. After the failed two-point conversion, the Rebels led 26-0 with 1:12 to go in the third quarter.
Union County got the Fannin kickoff but fumbled shortly after they started their drive and Isaac Davis came away with the football for Fannin. Khole Green turned on the jets and used his speed to find the endzone on a seven-yard touchdown run shortly after the Panther fumble. The Rebels two-point conversion was good as Mashburn scored on a quarterback keeper to give the Rebels a 34-0 lead with 10:59 to go in the fourth quarter.
Union was able to find the endzone late in the fourth quarter to close the gap 34-7, but the Rebels came away with the victory as they evened the all-time series with Union County 15-15 with a 34-7 win over the Panthers.
Waldrep led the defense with six tackles on the evening, including two tackles for losses. Davenport had six tackles as well, with Moreland and Owensby having five each.
Offensively, Reece finished the day with 105 yards rushing and one touchdown. Reece also had four catches for 61 yards and a touchdown.
Mashburn threw for 208 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 30 yards and a touchdown.
The Rebels spread the wealth on offense as 12 Rebels caught a pass. Fannin’s defense allowed only 208 yards of total offense from Union County.
Fannin will be at home Friday, August 27, as they host the Copper Basin Cougars for their second game of the season. The kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.