The Fannin County High School Rebels soccer team (5-3) dominated mountain rival Pickens County 9-1 at home March 12, and won in an overtime shootout with Gordon Central 6-5 March 10. Fannin has won three in a row.
Fannin went out in dramatic fashion against Gordon Central. After two overtime periods where both teams scored one goal, both teams successfully kicked five penalty kicks in the overtime shootout.
After Rebels’ Matthew Ponton, Breven Hennessey, Anthony Mubanda and Miller Denton combined for five successful kicks, it was Joshua Martinez who came through with a clutch kick to win it for the Rebels.
Gordon Central led 3-1 at halftime. Fannin’s scored at 17:03 on a Denton goal with an asssist from Ponton.
Ponton scored Fannin’s second goal early in the second half. Hennessey scored next at 27:15 to tie the game at three.
Denton hit a successful penalty kick at 18:22 before Gordon scored again at 4:37 to wrap up regulation. Mubanda scored the Fannin overtime goal in the first round.
Martinez, Conrad Head and Eli Brown had three steals each in the game. Kian Halpin and Hennessey had one each. Ponton and Head had one assist.
Fannin goalkeeper Conrad Kyle had four saves and helped overcome nine shots on goal.
In the game with Pickens, Ponton dominated offensively. He had a hat trick (three goals) in the first half. Fannin led 3-1 at halftime.
In the second half, Ponton had another goal.
Denton had his own hat trick in the second half.Mubanda and Brown had one goal each to round out the Fannin scoring.
For assists, Denton had three, Ponton had two, and Gage Bryan and Hennessee had one each.
Head Coach Lee Johnson is proud of his team. He said Hennessey was a crucial offensive component. “He moved the ball forward to open up space for those nine goals.” He added, “If it hadn’t been for his hard work, we would not have had that many goals. He does things the stat sheet doesn’t show.”
Mubanda had six steals in the game. Head had three, Brown had two, while Denton, Laurin Werner, Bryan and Hennessey had one each.
Johnson said defensively, Conner had a stellar night. Kyle finished the night with five saves. Pickens had six shots on goal.
Johnson also said Gage Bryan was exceptional against Pickens’ aggressive style. “He shut down their best player,” Johnson said.