Pavao and Rebels Look Strong with First Win

The Fannin County High School Rebels football team looked strong this week as the Rebels dominated the Indians of Murray County with a 55-6 drubbing. Head coach, Jim Pavao, received the game ball from the team after his first win as a head coach.The boys in blue dominated from the opening kickoff, as Jack Roper started the game with 22 yard kickoff return that put the Rebels in Indian territory.

After a tough time last week with the run, Fannin opened the game with Tyler Beaver trying to get the ground attack working. The short attempts led the Rebels to a punt via squib kick by the young quarterback.

Jared Petty and Roper showed the Murray County team just who was boss on the field as the Indians took over on offense. A bad snap along with a fired up defense pushed the Indians back to a long fourth down.

Both teams’ defenses held each offense to a couple of quick three and outs before Fannin got the ball ready to go to work. Beaver got his stride down breaking for a 57 yard touchdown run that would get called back after a holding penalty.

After the penalty, the Rebels turned to quick screens to push the ball deep into Indian territory. Going for it on fourth and four resulted in the Rebels turning the ball over on downs on the 11 yard line.

Fannin pushed the Indians back causing Murray to punt from its own end zone. Fannin took over on the Murray 40 to start the second quarter.

Fannnin took the Indians all the way down to the nine yard line where a costly fumble turned the ball over. On Fannin’s next set of downs Davis found Cooper Earls for a 57 Yard TD pass to put the “Boys in Blue” on top with four minutes left in the first half.

Petty sparked the defense on the next few plays, forcing a throwing situation on third down for the Indians. Petty picked the ball off and returned it to the five yard line. Three plays later Petty ended the quick drive with a one yard touchdown run to put the Rebels up 14-0 following a successful two point conversion with 1:39 left in the half.

Murray got into trouble again on the next drive when a bad snap lead to the Rebels recovering a fumble on the four yard line.

A block in the back penalty pushed the Rebels back to a 3rd and goal from the 12, with 20 seconds remaining. Davis found Daniel Lange for a 12 yard TD with 21 seconds left on the clock. Will Holloway added a PAT to make the halftime score of 21-0.

Murray opened the second half with a long drive that ended in a punt. Fannin went three and out, but changed the field position with long Brad Davis punt. The Rebel defense got a huge sack pushing the Indians to its 4 yard line. On the next play, a gang of Rebels picked up a safety to make the score 23-0.

Davis hooked up with Beaver on the ensuing drive to pick up a 34 yard pass completion. That set up a four yard TD run by Jared Petty that put the Rebels up 29-0 with a minute left in the 3rd.

Beaver added a 46 yard TD followed by a fumble recovery for a TD to put the Rebels up 42-0 with 11 minutes left in the fourth. Following the kickoff, Fannin stripped the ball from the Indians setting up a first and ten from the Murray 27.

Will Davis punched the ball in with an eight yard run to make the score 49-0 with 8 minutes in the game.

The Indians proceeded to turn the ball over on downs. This gave the Rebel nation a chance to see freshman quarterback Chandler Smith take over the offense. On a fourth and fifteen, Will Davis took the ball to the house to give the Rebels’ offense its final score. Fannin led 55-0 with 3 minutes left in the game.

The Rebels defense, was 40 seconds away from a shut out; however, the Indians’ offense scored late to make the final score 55-7.

This victory with take them into next week as Fannin looks to do the same against Armuchee.