The Fannin County High School Rebels football team opened their season against the Union County Panthers Friday, August 19. After a long, rainy game, the Rebels took a seven to 14 loss to the Panthers.
The Rebels began the first quarter on defense on the 29-yard line. The Rebel defense allowed two first downs, but Jeremy Tammen and Case Holloway rushed the quarterback for a stop in the backfield for a loss of about 13 yards for a fourth down. The Rebels took over at the 37-yard line. Senior quarterback Corbin Davenport ran the ball for 30 yards for the Rebels. Another run for ten yards put the Rebels at their 24-yard line, but the Rebels turned the ball over to the Panthers at the 14-yard line.
Cade Sands read the next play and met the Union County running back a yard behind the line of scrimmage. The Rebel defense stiffened, forcing the Panthers to punt, and the Rebels’ offense took over at the 45-yard line.
Davenport connected with Carson Collis for a gain of two yards. A run put the Rebels at fourth down with two yards to go, then Davenport kept the ball and ran it for a first down. The Rebels fumbled right at the 40-yard line.
Fannin County’s defense came on to make a few stops in the backfield just in time to end the quarter.
During the second quarter, Union County started on offense. The Rebel defense again stopped the hosts in the backfield. When the Rebels took over on offense, Davenport connected with Sands for a short gain. After another down, the Rebels’ Jack Kantner punted to Union County. Defensively, the Rebels held their own and didn’t allow the Panthers to score. Towards the end of the half, Davenport broke loose for a run of 60 yards and was tackled just short of the end zone. Sands powered through the Panther defense for a Fannin County first down within yards of the goal line. Davenport kept the ball and dove into the end zone, putting the first six points on the board. Kantner’s field goal attempt was good, ending the quarter 7-0 in the Rebels favor.
The Rebels began the second half on offense. Bryson Holloway returned a punt for about 30 yards, but a penalty brought Fannin County back ten yards at the 33-yard line. Downs caught up with the Rebels, so Kantner booted it on fourth down back to the Union County’s 40-yard line, and along with a penalty, the Panthers were pushed back to their 30-yard line. The defensive momentum from the Rebels continued to make stops in the backfield. Fannin’s offense returned the field at their own 18-yard line and sophomore Carson Callihan made a first down run. The offense brought in Elijah Weaver at quarterback who ran the ball just short of another first down.
The offense stalled and Union County took over at the 42-yard line, but was again forced to punt without a first down by a stingy Rebel defense.
The Rebels couldn’t capitalize, unable to muster a first down. The Panthers got to the 30-yard line in Rebel territory, found the end zone and added an extra point. The game was tied 7-7 at the end of the third quarter.
To begin the fourth quarter, the Rebels started on offense with Weaver at quarterback, who looked long at Collis. The Panther interfered giving the Rebels a first down. Weaver then kept the ball for about 25 yards and another first down. The Union County defense stiffened, holding the Rebel offense for the fourth down and the Panthers took over on offense at their own 25-yard line. Rebels Logan Long, Case Holloway and Baylor Twiggs were able to get stops in the backfield and got the ball back for the offense.
The Rebels couldn’t get in a groove, so Kantner came in to punt with just over four minutes left in the game. The Rebels fought hard at the line, but the Panthers found an open receiver about 25 yards downfield. Another long pass put the Panther in the end zone again. The extra point gave Union a 14-7 lead with 22 seconds left in the game. Davenport returned the fall from the Rebels’ five-yard line 80 yards to the Union County’s 15-yard line. Callihan and Weaver ran the ball for a first down four yards short of the goal line with 28 seconds left. Davenport ran and was stopped two yards short of the goal line. Fannin County called a timeout with two seconds left on the clock. Despite their final efforts, the Rebels couldn’t cross the goal line and the game ended with Union ahead 14-7.
The Rebels will hit the road again Friday, August 26, as they travel to Huff Mosley Memorial Stadium to face the Gilmer County Bobcats. Kick-off is set for 7:30 p.m.