A slow start hindered the Rebels early against Banks County on a chilly night Friday, October 2, but an explosive third quarter sealed the deal for Fannin as they put up five touchdowns to extend their lead and win 49-13.
Banks County won the toss and elected to receive as Jack Canter kicked the ball to the Leopards as Banks County set up shop at their own 27-yard line. Banks County began connecting on passes early and moved the chains down to the Rebels 18-yard line, but Seth Reece came up with a huge interception to give the ball back to the Rebels offense at their own four -yard line.
A Fannin fumble on the next play gave the ball back to Banks, however, as the Leopards offense set up shop at Fannin’s 27-yard line. Carter Mann, Cohutta Hyde and Micah O’Neal led the Rebels defense with some big stops to make it fourth and 12 at the Fannin 29-yard line.
Banks County went for it on fourth down with a trick play and scored on a 29-yard touchdown pass. The Leopards missed the extra point as they led 6-0 with 5:34 in the first quarter.
Fannin quarterback Luke Holloway got the ball at his own 25-yard line as Holloway kept the ball for five yards to make it second and five at the thirty yard line.
Fannin moved the ball, but Banks County forced a punt to give the Leopards the ball at their own four-yard line. Hyde quickly got the Rebel offense the ball back as he picked off a pass for a touchdown, but a Rebel penalty called the ball back to Banks County 13-yard line. The Rebels made it to the 10-yard line, where they turned the ball over on downs back to the Leopards.
O’Neal came up with a big sack on the drive to force Banks to punt as they kicked back to Fannin.
A fumble on the punt return gave Banks County the ball back at their own 36-yard line, but the Leopards could not convert the turnover to points and kicked back the Rebels. Fannin’s offense took over at their own 20-yard line. Holloway ran to the 25-yard line to make it second and five. Holloway found Ingram on the next play for a 54-yard pass to take the ball to the Banks 22-yard line. A few plays later Holloway found the endzone on a 13-yard run, and after the Catner field goal, Fannin took a 7-6 lead over Banks with 3:47 left to go in the second quarter.
Banks got the ball back, but a Hyde interception quickly gave the Rebels the ball back at the Banks County 25-yard line.
Holloway found Ingram on the next play for a 25-yard touchdown dart, and after the field goal by Catner, Fannin led 14-6 where the score remained until halftime.
Fannin came out in the third quarter hot as they erupted for five touchdowns.
Hyde returned the third quarter kickoff to the Banks County 48-yard line. The Rebels began moving the ball on ground, and Caleb Postell found paydirt a few plays later as he muscled his way in for a touchdown from nine yards out.
The Rebels led 20-6 with 10 minutes to go in the third as they punted the ball back to the Leopards.
Banks County had the ball just 54 seconds before Jake Sands snatched a Leopards pass and returned it for touchdown. After the extra point Fannin increased their lead 27-6.
Banks County got the ball back at their own 49-yard line, but was unable to score as Hyde intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown to make it 35-6 after the extra point with 6:34 to go in the third.
The Leopards got the ball back and tried to make something happen, but the Rebels forced a fumble, and McKay Turner came up with the recovery to give Fannin the ball at the Banks County 24-yard line.
One play later, Holloway found Andre Bivens on a 24-yard touchdown strike and after the Catner field goal, led 42-6 with 5:51 to go in the third.
Banks was unable to score on their possession as they kicked the ball back to the Rebels. Fannin was able to run the ball and eventually score as Reece bolted 13-yards for a touchdown, and after the extra point, led 49-6. The score remained 49-6 until the fourth quarter, when the Leopards were able to score one more time to cut the Rebels lead 49-13, as the Rebels picked up the win.
The Rebels defense tallied six interceptions in the game, as Hyde collected three, while Andrew Waldrep, Reece and Sands had one each. Waldrep, who was a key part in the Rebels defense, also finished the game with six tackles, one sack, one pass deflection and a tackle for loss.
The Rebels will kick off region play as they host the Gordon Central Warriors Friday, October 9.