Rebels: Fannin 2-0
The Fannin County High School Rebels football team earned their second win of the season Friday, August 23. A Rebel defense that allowed only 53 yards all night set the tone for a 28-7 decision over the visiting Rabun County Wildcats.
After the Rebels received the opening kickoff, a fumble left Rabun in excellent field position. The Wildcats used three plays to cover 37 yards for seven points.
The quick score was the only one Fannin would give up.
Fannin moved the ball toward midfield after the kickoff but turned the ball over on downs.
Copper Born and Luke Holsonback teamed up to lead the Rebel defense to a three-and-out for Rabun.
Fannin started from their own 15 yard line after the punt. Helped by a 47-yard pass from Lawson Sullivan to Tucker Dockery, the Rebels marched 85 yards for six points. Carson Callihan finished the drive with a three-yard touchdown run. Matthew Ponton’s extra point tied the game at 7-7 late in the first quarter.
Born, Dockery, Holsonback and Jacob Dye led the Rebel defense to force another three-and-out and a punt from deep within Wildcat territory.
The Rebels couldn’t capitalize from good field position, punted, and pinned the Wildcat offense on their own three yard line when Brandon Taylor downed Sullivan’s punt.
CJ Reece, Scott Waldrep and Taylor led a trio of defensive charges that brought up fourth and 14 for Rabun.
After starting at the 36 yard line in Rabun territory, Fannin moved the ball to the five yard line when a fumble stopped the drive.
Dye and Head, Born, and Case Holloway and Baylor Twiggs worked together for the trio of defensive stops to bring up fourth and four from the 11 yard line for Rabun.
A pair of penalties plagued the next Fannin possession, and the Rebels were forced to punt.
Rabun went nowhere thanks to the first stop by Case Holloway, then two tackles by Holsonback.
Two plays after the punt, Callihan carried the ball 46 yards, breaking four tackles, to get into the end zone. Ponton added another point, giving the Rebels a 14-7 lead late in the second quarter.
The rest of the half was eaten up by a Wildcat possession that went nowhere.
The second half started the same as the first, with the Rebels forcing a Wildcat punt.
An interception stopped Fannin’s first possession.
Again, Fannin’s defense ruled and Rabun punted.
On third and 10, Sullivan connected with Elijah Weaver who took the ball 63 yards for six Rebel points. Ponton’s extra point made the score 21-7 in the Rebels’ favor.
After the kickoff, facing fourth and long, Rabun punted.
This time, it was Rabun’s defense that stepped up and forced a punt.
The third quarter ended with a Wildcat first down. Rabun inched down field before Conrad Head broke up a pass in the end zone, saving the score. Waldrep made the final tackle of the drive, forcing a turnover on downs and putting the Rebel offense at the 23-yard line. The following Rebel effort ended with a punt.
Holsonback, Noah Burnette, Reece and Taylor worked together toforce another Wildcat punt.
Six plays into the Rebel possession, Callihan broke free for another long touchdown run to put Fannin up 27-6. Ponton added another point making the score 28-7 late in the fourth quarter.
Reid Holloway shut down the Wildcat kickoff return at the 35- yard line, and several plays later, Braxton Cheatham made the stop to end the game with a 28-7 win over Rabun.