Panthers roll 34-14 over Rabun County
By TODD FORREST Sentinel Writer

The Union County Panther football team (2-6 / 1-3) picked up their first Sub-Region victory since 2005 in a 34-14 romp over the defending sub-region runnerup Rabun County Wildcats (0-8 / 0-3). The aerial passing attack that the Panthers have displayed all season, gave way to the ground game and the Panthers racked up 330 rushing yards and a season low 106 yards in the air, which was mostly due to the comfortable lead that the Panthers held for the entire second half. Sophomore Quarterback Kolt Owenby picked up where he left off last week, completing ten of fourteen passes for 106 yards. Owenby added three rushing touchdowns and finished with 127 yards on the ground. Fellow Sophomore Blake Gowder rushed four times for 106 yards for an average of 26.5 yards per carry which was mostly due to a 79 yard touchdown run on the Panthers first play from scrimmage. Gowder also scored two touchdowns on the ground, as well as catching 4 passes for 26 yards. Senior Robert Heider added 63 yards on the ground and Manning Thomas had 33 yards. Clay McConnell and Jared Arrant each caught two passes for 33 and 21 yards, respectively.

Rabun County gave the Panthers a scare early in the first quarter but it was short lived as Gowder took the first play from scrimmage 79 yards for the game tying touchdown. The 79 yard run was the longest run of the season for the Panthers. It also matched the longest play of the season, tying with his own 79 yard reception against Banks County last week.

The Panthers started to break the game open late in the second quarter. Gowder's second score of the evening came midway through the second quarter when he punched it in from four yards out. The key sequence and the turning point of the game came late in the first half when the Panther defense blocked a Rabun field goal and gave the offense the ball back with just over a minute and half remaining in quarter number two. That's when the Panthers put together a drive that resulted in Owenby calling his own number and taking it in from twenty yards out. The score put the Panthers on top 21-7 going into halftime. "The drive right before halftime was by far our best drive in a hurry up offense all year," said Coach Peugh.

The Panthers picked up where they left off during the third quarter as Owenby scored on a five yard touchdown run from five yards out to put Union on top 28-7 with just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter. Owenby then picked up the hat trick with 3:30 left in the third when he scored from the eleven yard line for his third touchdown of the game to make

a 34-7 lead after three quarters of action.

Union County played it's JV squad for the entire fourth quarter and Rabun County added a late touchdown to bring the Wildcats within three touchdowns but it was too little, too late and the Panthers went on to win 34-14. The win is Union's second win over Rabun County in three years. The win also doubles the Panther win total from last season with two games remaining.

Next week the Panthers will travel to North Oconee where they look to avenge a 41-0 loss to the Titans last season in game where many felt North Oconee was trying to run up the score. "We just need to finish strong. North Oconee is 7-1 but we still have a shot as long as we play well," said Coach Peugh. North Oconee comes into the game averaging 30 points a game on offense and only allowing 14.5 points game on defense. The Panthers and Titans have played three common opponents this season - Banks, Rabun, and Creekview. The Titans won all three games. 26-14 over Banks County, 46-13 over Rabun County, and 26-22 against Creekview.

The Panthers are also guaranteed one more home game on November 9th. The Panthers will take on the Putnam County War Eagles. "It'll be nice for the seniors to get one more home game," said Coach Peugh. "A strong finish will get people excited going into the offseason workouts and hopefully convince more kids to come aboard."