Late Rebel surge too much for Panthers
By TODD FORREST Sentinel Writer

The Fannin County Rebels (5-1/1- 0) scored 21 unanswered points in less than 90 seconds to break the Panthers (1-4/0-1) back, and turn a 19-17 Union County lead into a 38-19 Rebel advantage, late in the third quarter. Fannin County tacked on another TD early in the fourth quarter for a 45-19 Rebel victory.

The Panthers were plagued by turnovers and miscues all night. Union County fumbled two kickoffs, threw an interception which was returned for a touchdown, had a punt blocked, and missed two extra-points.

The turnovers started just seconds into the game as the Panthers fumbled the opening kickoff. Fannin recovered and set up shop inside the Panther 30 yard line. The Panther defense held their ground and Fannin was forced to settle for a 32 yard field goal. The kick was successful and Fannin held a 3-0 lead with just under 10:00 to play in the first quarter.

The Panther offense was unable to move the ball early and went three and out on their first three possessions. Fannin County, however, had no trouble moving the ball and jumped out to a 10-0 lead after the Rebels scored on a 12 yard run at the 8:00 mark of the opening frame. After another Panther three and out, Fannin County completed a 15 yard touchdown pass to take a 17-0 lead with 1:25 left in the first quarter.

On the Panther's next possession, with :28 left in the first, Union County finally picked up a first down. The moving of the chains provided the spark that the Panther offense needed and they put together their first drive of the game. The Panthers capped off the drive when Blake Gowder stuck stuck it in from a yard out. The extrapoint cut the Fannin lead to 17-7 with 9:58 remaining in the second quarter.

Fannin County had an opportunity to stretch out their lead but a 33 yard field goal sailed wide right and the Panthers took over at their own 23 yard line with 2:58 to play until halftime. It only took the Panthers 1:36 to drive 77 yards for the score. Kolt Owenby connected with Gowder on an 18 yard touchdown reception with only 1:22 left in the first half. The extra-point attempt was unsuccessful but Union County had seized momentum and cut the Rebel lead to 17-13.

Fannin County took the ensuing kickoff and returned it all the way down to the Union County 35 and just like that, momentum was back on the side of Fannin County. Things started to look even more grim for the Panthers when a personal foul was called against Union County and gave the Rebels first and 10 from the Panther 21 with :57 left in the half. Momentum quickly swung back into Union County's favor when Chandler Gordon picked off a Rebel pass in the endzone with :36 left in the first half.

At this point Fannin County knew they had a game on their hands and this wasn't the same Union County team. It was obvious that Fannin County knew that the Panthers were capable of the upset. Especially when the Fannin coaches were overheard at halftime, yelling at their players - telling them that the offense would have to score every time they touched the ball if they wanted to win.

The Panthers picked up where they left off in the third quarter when Gowder intercepted a pass on Fannin County's second play of the half. The pick gave the Panthers a first down at the Rebel 20 yard line. Union County was faced with a 4th down and four when Owenby hit Chris Tanner for the first down. Then on the following play, at the 9:27 mark of the third quarter, Chris Tanner rumbled into the endzone from three yards out to give the Panthers their first lead of the game, 19-17. After Fannin County opened the game with 17 unanswered, the Panthers responded with 19 points in a row.

The Rebels took the ensuing kickoff and answered with a long, time consuming drive. The Rebels drove all the way to the Panther 30 yard line when the Union County defense tightened up and forced Fannin County into a fourth and eight from the Panther 28 yard line. However, momentum shifted again when the Rebels completed a 28 yard touchdown pass, into double coverage, to regain the lead at 24-19.

It looked as if the Panthers were going to return the favor with a drive of their own but the drive quickly ended when Kolt Owenby was hit as he went to pass, and the ball fell right into the hands of a Fannin County lineman, he returned the interception 40 yards for a Rebel touchdown. The Panthers fumbled away the following kickoff and Fannin took over at the Panther six yard line. One play later, the Rebels scored and when the smoke cleared, Fannin County held a commanding 38-19 lead with 4:31 left in the third. The Rebels added another touchdown at the 8:09 mark of the fourth for their final score of the game. After the Panthers responded with 19 points in a row, Fannin finished the game with 28 unanswered.

On Friday the Panthers travel to Dawson County (2-4/1-0) for what is always an intense game between the two bitter rivals. Dawson has dominated Union County of late winning the last four meetings and five of the last nine. Dawson has shut out the Panthers three consecutive years, including a 38-0 victory last season. However, with the Panthers continued improvement, everyone is expecting a close, hard fought game. Kickoff will be at 7:30 in Dawsonville.