Murphy Mangles: Ruins Rebels’ Home Opener with 42-13 Win

The Murphy (NC) Bulldogs, the defending North Carolina A state champs, ran roughshod over the home team Fannin County High School Rebels. The Bulldogs beat the Rebels 42-13, behind a vicious ground attack that wracked up 381. Conversely, the Rebels rushed for 164 yards on the ground.The Rebels won the toss and elected to receive; however the first Fannin drive resulted in a quick three and out followed by a punt. The Bulldogs’ Brice McKeon returned the punt 39 yards to the Fannin 18 yard line.

A few plays later, Murphy’s Kenton Braswell scored the game’s first touchdown on a seven yard scamper.

The next Fannin possession began on the Rebels’ own nine yard line due to a block in the back during Peyton Satterfield’s 24 yard return.

The Rebels converted on third and seven, when quarterback, Trevor Stone connected with Noah O’Neal on a nine yard pass for Fannin’s first first down. After a short QB keeper by Stone, O’Neal got open for a 36 yard bomb from Stone that gave Fannin the ball on the Murphy 39 yard line.

The Rebels could not take advantage and ending up punting back to Murphy. Murphy’s Deion Johnson took the first hand off 49 yards to the Fannin 31. Fannin’s Jack Roper saved the touchdown with a last second tackle.

Roper’s effort was for naught, as James Posey later scored on the ground for Murphy, putting the Bulldogs up 14-0 just before the start of the second quarter.

The second quarter began with a Fannin fumble, recovered by Murphy’s Mustafa Mugharbil. The Bulldogs turned the turnover into points, when Posey scored his second touchdown of the day with a 26 yard scamper on third and one.

With 10:32 left in the half, the route was officially on, as Fannin faced a 21-0 deficit.

Fannin found some life on the ensuing possession. Fannin took over on its own 35 yard line. Jordan Gray picked up a first down with two bruising runs up the middle, dragging Murphy defenders the whole way.

Following a Murphy off sides penalty that gave the home team a first down, Gray took a short pass from Stone in the flats and scooted all the way to the Murphy 13 yard line; however, offsetting penalties ended up moving the ball back two yards.

On first and 10 from the Murphy 15, Satterfield raced 15 yards for the first Fannin touchdown of the year. After a missed extra point, the Rebels were down 21-6 with 6:06 left in the first half.

The Bulldogs took over at the Murphy 40 yard line, following an impressive kick off return. Three plays later Posey scored again and the Bulldogs led 28-6 with 4:27 left in the first half.

Fannin fumbled on the next possession which led to McKeon catching a touchdown in the very back of the end zone with 6.76 left in the half, to give Murphy a 35-6 lead going into half time.

Each team scored once more in the second half, with Posey scoring again for the Bulldogs, and Jacob Greer catching a touchdown late, off a deflection of a pass intended for Noah O’Neal, with 1:03 left in the game.

Fannin next faces fierce rival Gilmer High School at GHS on Friday August, 31st. Fannin is 9-1 in the last 10 years versus, Gilmer; however the Bobcats won last year’s meeting, 29-21.