The Fannin County Rebels football team started their region play off with a bang as they traveled to Cherokee Bluff to take on the Bears. The Rebels defense gave the Bears fits all night as Fannin traveled back to home with a 21-7 victory and are now 1-0 in region play.
The Rebels won the toss and elected to receive as Cohutta Hyde brought the Bears kickoff to Fannin’s 29-yard line.
Junior quarterback Luke Holloway led the Rebel offense on the field, but were unable to move the sticks as the Rebels punted back to the Bears. Cherokee Bluff fielded the Holloway punt.
The Bears moved the ball all the way to the Rebels 36-yard line where the Rebels defense locked up. Fannin held the Bears on third down to make it fourth and two at Fannin’s 36-yard line.
Cherokee Bluff elected to go for it, but a huge stop by Will Mosely gave the Rebels offense the ball back at their own 35-yard line.
The Rebels took to the ground and let workhorses Treylyn Owensby and Mosely move the sticks. The Rebels made it into the Bears territory, but a fumble gave Cherokee Bluff the ball at their own 19-yard line to end the first quarter.
The Fannin defense remained stiff to start the second quarter as they forced a Bears fumble.
Jakob Tuggle fell on the loose ball to give the Rebels the ball at the Bears 18-yard line. After a few negative yardage plays, Holloway dropped back and found Hyde for a 25-yard pass to put the Rebels at first and goal at the one yard line.
Owensby punched it in the end zone from one yard out to put the Rebels on the board. After the good extra point by senior kicker Sarah Sosebee the Rebels had a 7-0 lead with 10:19 left in the second quarter. The Bears got the ball and could not score as they kicked the ball back to the Rebels. The Rebels were unable to drive down the field as well as they punted back to Cherokee Bluff. The Bears got the ball back and moved down the field and got into scoring range. Jalen Ingram was able to pick a second down pass off at the 25-yard line and take it to the house for a 75-yard pick six.
After the good extra point by Sosebee the Rebels led 14-0 where the score remained until halftime.
Cherokee Bluff got the ball at their own 27-yard line to start the third quarter as the Rebel defense took the field. The Bears began going through the air and moving the chains, but a Jackson Weeks interception halted the Bears and got the Rebels defensive off the field quickly.
Fannin could not generate points off of the turnover and punted the ball back to the Bears.
Cherokee Bluff went to the ground before throwing a 79-yard touchdown strike to slice the Rebel lead. After the good extra point Fannin led 14-7 with 4:07 to go in the third.
Both teams traded possessions to end the third quarter with the Rebels on offense to start the fourth quarter. Owensby and Mosely bruised their way into the Bears territory.
A screen pass to Seth Reece, a penalty on the Bears and a two yard run by Owensby set the Rebels up for a first and goal at the two yard line.
Mosely then punched the ball in from two yards out on the next play to extend the Rebels lead.
After the Sosebee extra point, the Rebels led 21-7 with 10:52 to go in the fourth.
The Rebels defense held Cherokee Bluff the remainder of the game, not allowing a score.
The Rebels were unable to find the end zone again in the quarter as they walked away with a big Region victory.
Fannin County now sits at 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the region. They look to improve to 2-0 in the region Friday, October 12, when the Rebels travel to East Hall to take on the Vikings.