Rebels Run Roughshod: Mangle Murphy in Overtime: UPDATED WITH EXCLUSIVE VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS (COURTESY OF ETC TV3)

On a night where the Rebels’ All-Decade team was honored, the Fannin County High School Rebels won a hard fought 34-28 overtime game versus the Murphy (N.C.) Bulldogs. Blake Henry scored the game winning touchdown. Henry’s touchdown run came after the Rebel’s defense forced a Bulldog fumble, on the game’s first overtime possession, that was recovered by Dakota Born. Henry rushed for 191 yards on 16 carries, with 3 touchdowns, for a whopping 11.94 yards per carry average. Despite Henry’s Herculean effort he was the Rebels second leading rusher. Peyton Satterfield, who also tied for third on the team in tackles (6), had 192 yards on 23 carries for an 8.35 ypc average. He also added two rushing touchdowns. The “Running” Rebels gashed the Bulldog defense with 418 yards on 47 total carries for a team average of 8.89 ypc.

The Bulldogs started off barking on the wrong paw as Murphy was called for offsides on the opening kickoff. The Rebels first drive was a scoring drive when Henry scored the game’s first touchdown on a 60 yard scamper.

The subsequent possession began with a Rebels repeat of Murphy’s offsides on the kickoff penalty, however, after the penalty, Bulldog return man, Deon Johnson, fell at the Bulldog 15 yard line, giving the Bulldog offense a long field to work with.

The Rebels’ defense forced a quick three and out. Heath Davenport stuffed the first Murphy fullback on first down. The Bulldogs were called for holding on second down, putting them in a second and 18 situations. Peyton Satterfield sniffed out the Murphy draw play and Jordan Gray just missed a sack on third down.

After a short punt the Fannin held the ball at the Rebels 49. Following two positive running plays, on third and two, Henry took the pitch from quarterback, Trevor Stone and raced 43 yards to the end zone for his second touchdown of the night. The Rebels were up 14-0 with seven minutes left in the first quarter.

After a failed Fannin onside kick attempt, Murphy held the ball at its own 36 yard line. The Murphy offense was able to move the ball all the way to the Rebels 10 when Rebel Korey Satterfield picked off Seth Curtis’ pass attempt.

On third and eight from the Rebels 12 yard line, Trevor Stone connected with Brandon Minter, on a 23 yard play action pass to give the Rebels first and 10 from the its own 35. Fannin was able to pick up one more first down, before Kenton Braswell forced a fumble of Peyton Satterfield that gave Murphy the ball at the Bulldog 47 yard line. With only 53 yards to go the Bulldogs made the score 14-7 when Braswell scored on a short run with 8:27 left in the first half.

Peyton Satterfield returned the kickoff 16 yards to the Rebels 28 yard line. After two short runs, Satterfield took a pitch from Stone for and eleven yard gain on third and two. On first and 10 from the Rebel 47, Satterfield rumbled 53 yards, breaking Bulldog tackles left and right in route to the end zone. With 6:20 left in the first half, the Rebels led 21-7.

Johnson took the Rebel kickoff to the Murphy 42, before Chris Fain, and Taylor Brodowsky, brought him down, saving a touchdown. On first down, Devon Hurd stuffed Braswell for a one yard gain. However, the Bulldogs were called for a block in the back making it first and 25. After a Curtis keeper, Curtis hooked with Tyler Wiley, for a big pass play which gave the Bulldogs first and 10 at the Rebels 44 yard line.

Curtis picked up 12 more yards on another keeper, before being brought down by Born. Brandon Minter stuffed James Posey behind the line of scrimmage to bring up second and long for the Bulldogs. Minter almost sacked Curtis on second and thirteen, and Curtis’ last second pass was almost picked off. After Curtis was stuffed in the backfield by Kyle Kochish, Josh Cook caught a bomb from Curtis on fourth and forever to five the Bulldogs first and 10 on the Rebels’ 15 yard line. Curtis scored on the next play with a bootleg keeper. The Bulldogs were down seven with 2:30 left in the half. The half ended with Fannin up 21-14.

The opening kickoff of the second half saw the Rebels called for a personal foul and the Bulldogs start with the ball at the Fannin 42. Murphy was not able to procure a first down, as Chris Newton, broke up a fourth down pass.

The two teams each traded a possession with neither picking up a first down. The Rebels completed a 59 yard drive, featuring a 29 yard carry by Peyton Satterfield, and a converted fourth down by Henry. The drive ended when Peyton Satterfield scored from one yard out on third and goal with an over the top of the pile dive into the end zone. The subsequent point after attempt was good, and the Rebels seemed to be running away as Fannin went up 28-14 with 1:40 left in the third quarter.

The Bulldogs players refused to tuck in their tails as Braswell recorded a 28 yard return to give Murphy great field possession on its own 40 yard line. After a 12 yard quarterback keeper, the Bulldogs had first and 10 on the Rebels 48 yard line. A few plays later, James Posey scored on the ground for the Bulldogs and the teams went into the fourth quarter with Fannin leading 28-21.

The Rebels opened up the fourth quarter running down the Bulldogs throat. On second and five, Henry busted up the middle for a 34 run to the Murphy 38. Trevor Stone picked up another first down when he too, busted up the middle swatting away would be tacklers likee gnats at a family reunion BBQ. With first and 10 from the Murphy 21, Stone fumbled and the Bulldogs recovered at the Murphy 17.

After picking up a first down with a run by Braswell, the Bulldogs picked up another first down, when Curtis completed a 14 yard pass to Brice Mckeon that gave Murphy the ball at the Bulldog 49. Korey Satterfield, who led the Rebels in tackles with eight, saved the touchdown with his tackle of McKeon. However, the Rebel relief was short lived as Braswell busted up the middle for a 37 yard touchdown run. The game was tied 28-28 with 6:13 left in the fourth quarter.

Regulation ended with the score the still tied when Murphy’s Chris Tarnowski missed a potential game winning 37 yard field goal attempt with 3.4 seconds on the clock.

The Bulldogs began the first overtime possession on the Rebels’ 15 yard line. The Rebels defense held strong and on third and three forced the fumble recovered by Born that enabled Henry to score the game winning touchdown.

The win avenged a 55-21 drubbing that the Rebels suffered at the hands of the Bulldogs last year. The Rebels next take on rival Gilmer High School at home on Friday August 26th.

Exclusive Fannin Vs. Murphy Highlights (COURTESY OF ETC TV3) from Fetch on Vimeo.