JV football scores 24 in loss to Fannin
By TODD FORREST Sentinel Writer

Sentinel photos/Todd Forrest Cody Dyer breaks a tackle and scores a touchdown during last week's JV football game against Fannin County.

Union County JV quarterback Jesse Wright threw for four touchdown passes but Fannin County prevailed in a shootout, 50-24. Panther receivers Cody Dyer and Jared Peterson reeled in two touchdown catches each including a 75 yard touchdown reception for Dyer, late in the second quarter to put the Panthers on the board.

Early on it appeared as if this game would be dominated by Fannin County after they picked off a Panther pass and returned it for a score to give the Rebels a 22-0 lead late in quarter number one. Fannin added another touchdown and two-point conversion to take a commanding 30-0 lead with just over 3:00 to play until halftime. That's when Dyer took a pass from Wright, broke a few tackles and went 75 yards to cut the Fannin lead to 30-6 with 2:49 left in the half.

Momentum finally looked like it had swung the Panther way after Fannin County fumbled the ensuing kickoff and the Panthers pounced on it; setting them up with great field position. Union didn't waste anytime as Wright hooked up with Peterson for a 33 yard touchdown strike to bring the score to 30-12 at the half.

Sentinel photo/Todd Forrest A Union County player is brought down by a Fannin County defender.

During the third quarter, Fannin County came out and grabbed momentum back into their favor as they scored fourteen unanswered points to take a commanding 44-12 lead. However, the Panthers would not go away, as Wright connected with Dyer for the second time on the evening to cut into the Rebel lead at 44-18. Then as time expired in the third quarter Wright hit Peterson for his second touchdown catch of the day to bring the score to 44-24 going into the fourth.

During the fourth quarter Fannin County scored early to put the game on ice. Despite failing on their two-point attempt they still held

commanding 50-24 lead with just over 7:30 to play. Union County's Jesse Wright, Cody Dyer, and Jared Peterson all gave heroic performances for the Panthers. Every time Fannin would start to pull away one or two of them would step up and create a big play to keep the Panthers in it and prevent Fannin from embarrassing us. The heart that these three kids displayed was one of my most memorable moments I've seen in recent years by a Panther football player.