The Fannin County Rebel football team punched their ticket to the Elite Eight of the Georgia State Playoffs Friday, December 4, as they pulled out a nail biting 21-14 win in front of a packed stadium over the Heard County Braves.
Micah O’Neal led the team with three tackles for loss, followed by Cason Ownesby with one and Andrew Waldrep with one.
The Rebels won the toss and elected to receive the ball to start the game as Cohutta Hyde took the ball out to the Rebels’ 26-yard line. Senior quarterback Luke Holloway led his offense out on the field and Seth Reece picked up where he left off last with a big four-yard run to get to the Rebels’ 30-yard line. Holloway then kept the ball and sprinted to the Rebels’ 49-yard line to give the Rebels a fresh set of downs. The Rebel drive continued to the Heard County 44-yard line where the Braves stopped Fannin and forced a punt. Jalen Ingram had a solid punt that pinned the Braves at their own nine-yard line.
The Braves got to their own 30-yard line before O’Neal and the Rebel defense shut them down and forced a punt.
After the punt, the Rebels set up shop at their own 26-yard line as Ingram began to heat up. Holloway found Ingram two times in a row through the air for 22-yards to the Rebels’ 48-yard line. Postell had a strong six-yard run, followed by a four-yard run to cross over into the Braves’ territory for a fresh set of downs. The Rebels made it down to the 35-yard line before a fumble took the ball away and gifted it to Heard County at their own 42-yard line.
Fannin’s defense was able to hold true, however as Logan Long and Ricardo Arellanes had big stops to halt the Braves’ drive and force a punt.
The Rebels got the ball at their own 31-yard line and could not generate yards as Ingram punted the ball back to Heard county. The punt sailed through the air for great yardage as Heard County started from their own 22-yard line.
Waldrep had a monster hit for the Rebels as the Braves lost two yards on the play. Shift wide out Andre Bivens knocked down a pass, and the Rebels defensive line held up as the Braves were forced into a three and out and punted back to Fannin.
The Rebels took over on their own 49-yard line as Reece started to impose his will on the defense. The Rebels offensive line, along with Reece, was able to run the ball down to the Braves’ 20-yard line. After a false start the Rebels were looking at fourth and 10 from the 25-yard line as Holloway found Bivens through the air for a first down to the Heard County 13-yard line. Reece plowed his way to the endzone on the next play for a 13-yard touchdown run and after the Jack Kantner extra point, the Rebels led 7-0 with 5:44 to go in the second quarter.
After a scoreless possession from both teams, the Braves were able to get into the endzone on a two-yard touchdown run. After the extra point, the game was tied at 7-7, where the score remained until half time.
Heard County got the ball back to start the third quarter and quickly marched down the field to score on a 10-yard touchdown run. After the extra point, the Braves led the Rebels 14-7 with 9:46 to go in the third quarter.
Corbin Davenport took the kickoff Heard County’s 42-yard line, giving the Rebels energy on the sideline. Reece broke off an eight yard run, followed by another run to the Braves’ 30-yard line. Holloway then stepped back and found Ingram to put the ball in the red zone as the Rebels got a fresh set of downs at the 19-yard line. Reece powered to the 11-yard line where Holloway threw a dart to Bivens, who would not be denied the touchdown. After the Kantner extra point, the Rebels tied the game 14-14 with 5:47 to go in the third.
After scoreless possessions from both teams, and some great pass coverages by Carson Collis, the Rebels got the ball back at their own 26-yard line to set up shop early in the fourth quarter. Reece began breaking off big chunks of yardages on the ground. The Rebels performed a tricked play as Reece chucked the ball down the field. The pass was incomplete, but drew a pass interference penalty to move the chains to Heard County’s 49-yard line. The Rebels gained one yard on a Reece run before Reece made a house call from 48-yards out on the ground. After the Kantner extra point, the Rebels took a 21-14 lead over the Braves with 8:35 to go in the fourth.
After a couple of scoreless possessions from both teams the game was on the line late in the fourth as Heard County was at the Rebels 35-yard line. Collis had a solid game, and was able to break up two potential scoring passes on the final drive as the Braves turned the ball over on downs and the Rebels got in victory formation to seal a 21-14 win and move on to the Elite Eight.
Reece finished the game with 26 carries for 172 yards and two touchdowns. Reece also had an interception.
Ingram had six targets for 49 yards, while Andre Bivens had three targets for 29 yards and a touchdown.
Fannin will face their toughest challenge yet next week as Fitzgerald will make the trip up to Fannin County to take on the Rebels. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.