The Fannin High School Rebels football team traveled to Rabun County to take on the Wildcats. The players of Fannin found out that head coach Clark Drennan was “relieved of his (football) duties” hours before the game. The Rebels were obviously distracted and Fannin fell, 35-21.The first score of the game did not come until the beginning of the second quarter when the Wildcats scored on a quarterback keeper. After the extra point, Rabun led 7-0. Less than a minute later, Fannin’s Blake Henry, tied the game up with a 59 yard scamper.

Rebels Rise on Defense
(Photo by LT Melton)

The Wildcats’ run oriented read option offense frustrated Fannin all night. The Wildcats drove right down the field on the next Rabun possession, and with 7:32 left in the first half, Fannin fell behind a gain, 14-7.

The teams traded possessions, with the Fannin defense, led by Dakota Mulls and Kyle Kochish’s combined sack on third down, forcing a fourth and long punt with just over three and a half minutes left in the half.

Peyton Satterfield’s long touchdown reception, on the ensuing possession, was wiped out by a block in the penalty. The Rabun defense was able to hold on and secure another possession before the half ended.

The Wildcats had the ball at the Fannin 44 with 8.5 seconds left in the half. A few plays later, with one second on the clock, a Rabun Hail Mary prayer was answered, with a catch in the end zone, and the Wildcats went wild, up 21-7 at the half.

Due to a personal foul, on the point after attempt before the half, (roughing the holder on Fannin) the Wildcats kick off from the Fannin 45 to start the half. Rabun rocked the Rebels with a successful onside kick that gave the Wildcats the ball 35 yards from the end zone.

Running Rebels
(Photo by LT Melton)

The defense of the Rebels rose to the occasion, as Noah O’Neal’s tackle in the backfield, followed by a penalty and a sack by Kochish on third down put the Wildcats in fourth and 17 and forced the punt.

Fannin found itself on its own 12 yard line, and methodically drove the 76 yards to the end zone. Fullback, Jordan Gray capped off the drive with a 13 yard touchdown. The extra point attempt was missed, and the Rebels were down 21-13 with 5:24 left in the third quarter.

A big Rabun return was wiped out by a block in the back call on the kick off. Rabun drove into Rebel territory; however, yet another third down Kochish sack forced a Wildcats’ punt.

Following a Fannin foul of a personal nature on the punt return, the Rebels’ possession began on the Rebel 12 yard line. A third down sack of quarterback, Trevor Stone, forced a Rebels punt.

The game was a defensive back and forth affair, until a Wildcats’ touchdown reception with just over six minutes left in the game, provided the nail in the Rebels’ coffin.