Rebels sixth grade football team wins Super Bowl

The Fannin County sixth grade Recreation football team recently capped off an undefeated season by winning the Mountain Football League Super Bowl November 13 in Dawsonville. In a defensive battle for all four quarters, Fannin found the end zone in the second half and finished off the win with a great performance by the defense, defeating Union County 6-0.

Fannin took the ball first on their own 30 yard line but had to punt the ball away to the Panthers.

Casen Bailey made the first big play of the day, as he punted the ball 52 yards to pin Union deep in their own territory. Union’s offense couldn’t get anything going on offense and on the fourth play from scrimmage, fumbled the ball back to the Rebels. Reid Holloway had a huge 20-yard reception, but Fannin couldn’t get in the end zone and gave the ball back to Union. The end of the first quarter came to a close with the score tied at 0-0.

Union started a long drive that got into Fannin territory, but eventually turned the ball over on downs against Fannin’s stingy defense. The Rebels began another drive, but Union’s defense was up to the task as well and forced Fannin to give the ball back just before halftime. Again, Fannin’s defense wouldn’t allow Union to get close to the end zone and the first half ended just like it started, with the score all tied up at zero.

Union started the third quarter with a huge kickoff return down to the Rebel 21-yard line, but Fannin jarred the ball loose and recovered the fumble to end the Panther threat. The Rebels started the drive at their own 38 looking to get on the scoreboard. Reid Holloway started the drive with a four-yard reception from quarterback Cannon Holloway and Bailey added a 10-yard catch. Jackson Bittner caught back-to-back passes from Holloway to keep the drive going.

Holloway bolted for a nine-yard carry to move the ball inside the Union ten-yard line, and on the next play, he found the end zone from nine yards out to give the Rebels a 6-0 lead in the fading minutes of the third quarter. The two-point conversion was no good, but Fannin had the lead going into the final quarter. Fannin’s defense bowed its neck and stopped Union again on four plays, taking over at their own 44-yard line, but the Union defense stepped up and got the ball back for its offense.

Union drove the ball down to the Rebel 16-yard line with just over three minutes left, but Fannin stopped them again on fourth down. The Rebel offense tried to move the ball, but Union’s defense tightened up and forced another punt, but Bailey drilled his second long punt of the game, this one going to the Panther 44-yard line.

Union found some success moving the ball on this drive as they moved the ball down to the Rebel 12-yard line, but Holloway came up with a huge interception to give the ball back to Fannin with under a minute to go. The Rebel offense then went into the best play in football, the victory formation, and melted the rest of the clock, preserving their 6-0 lead and bringing the Super Bowl trophy back to Blue Ridge.

Members of the sixth-grade champions are: Liam Highley, Jaxon Bittner, Cannon Holloway, Jayden Richerson, Venice Oliver, Reid Holloway, Devon Hasker, Trenton Hulsey, Casen Bailey, Garrison Ensley, Bentlee Jackson, Drew Dyer, Jason Allen, Brody Burnette, Cayden Reece, Marshall McDaniel, Jason McDaniel, Jackson Thigpen, Wyatt Flowers, Cauy Sutton, and Joseph Rhodes. The sith Grade Rebels are led by Head Coach Ryan Holloway and assistant coaches are Brandon Holloway, Clay Holloway, Chad Bailey, Kevin Sutton, Terry Flowers, and Chris Thigpen.

Captions:

(A): The Fannin County sixth grade recreation football team finished off an undeafeated season by winning the Mountain Football League Super Bowl November 13, in Dawsonville. Shown following their super bowl victory are, from left, front, Garrison Ensley, Liam Highley, Marshall McDaniel, Devon Hasker, Venice Oliver, Cauy Sutton, Wyatt Flowers, Bentlee Jackson and Jayden Richerson; and back, Drew Dyer, Joseph Rhodes, Jason Allen, Cayden Reece, Cannon Holloway, Jaxon Bittner, Jackson Thigpen, Reid Holloway, Brody Burnette, Casen Bailey, Jason McDaniel and Trenton Hulsey. Not pictured are Coaches Ryan Holloway, Brandon Holloway, Clay Holloway, Chad Bailey, Kevin Sutton, Terry Flowers, and Chris Thigpen.