Fannin County head coach Chad Cheatham walked his Rebels onto Pettit Field, and at game’s end, they walked out of Huff-Mosley Memorial Stadium with a loss.
The hometown Gilmer High Bobcats scored a touchdown on seven straight possessions to begin the game as their rushing attack was unstoppable last Friday. GHS built a formidable 21-point lead in the second half before a last-minute Rebel score made the final 49-35 in the Bobcats’ favor.
The victory snapped a four-game winning streak for Fannin, and because the schools did not face each other in the previous two seasons, it marked Gilmer’s first win over the Rebels since 2015.
“It was a great night for our school and community,” said head coach Paul Standard. “They scored first kind of easily, but thankfully, our kids responded and executed unlike last week in the first half. We stopped them and went up 14-7, then we traded some scores. It was like a boxing match.
“I’m an old guy, so I was in an old rivalry at my old school (St. Pius vs. Marist). This matches it, and I’m sure Pickens will match it. That (Pickens) is actually a bigger game this year because they’re in our region. To be a part of this rivalry (vs. Fannin), it seems like it was a huge weight lifted off our boys shoulders. I think there’s been this mental block and tonight they ended all that.”
Standard added, “It’s only a rivalry if teams trade (wins) back and forth, and I think it’s rivalry again. This gives a good boost to our community and the players’ self pride. It’s fun to see those kids be happy.”
Gilmer’s offense was an explosive model of efficiency. The Bobcats racked up 379 rushing yards and averaged 9.7 yards per carry. Of its seven touchdown drives, four needed three plays or less. GHS ran 42 offensive plays on the night, which meant it averaged a point per play.
GHS sophomore quarterback Issac Rellinger totaled 160 yards and four touchdowns. Halfback Hunter Watkins torched the Rebels for long runs and finished with 208 rushing yards and two touchdowns on a mere eight carries. Fannin’s defense keyed on GHS fullback Brock Titus, who tallied 54 yards on 14 attempts.
For the Rebels, senior Corbin Davenport was the focal point of their shotgun offense. When he lined up at quarterback, he ran the ball. When Davenport took the field at receiver, he was the main target of quarterback Elijah Weaver.
FCHS tailback Carson Callihan was the Rebels’ other main weapon, and he and Davenport moved them down field to start the game. The seven-play, 60-yard drive ended with a 1-yard draw by Davenport. The extra point gave Fannin an early 7-0 lead after less than three minutes of play.
GHS responded with one of its longest drives of the night at eight plays. The possession began at its 20, and Titus, Watkins, Rellinger and halfback Will Kiker all traded carries to move the Cats into Rebel territory. From Fannin’s 41, Rellinger kept the ball on the option and navigated traffic through the Rebels’ defense for a touchdown run.
Jovani Kukla made his first of seven extra points to even the score at 7-7.
Fannin received a short field on the next drive, but it stalled at the Cats’ 26. GHS needed just three plays as Watkins hit the left edge before slipping a tackle and racing down the sideline for a 69-yard touchdown. Gilmer took a 14-7 lead with 2:19 left in the opening quarter.
Callihan ran for 52 yards when Fannin got the ball back as he wore out the right side of Gilmer’s defense. The 11-play, 70-yard drive concluded with a 5-yard Weaver draw as the score was tied once again, 14-14.
Gilmer only needed two plays on its ensuing drive. Fannin did not cover Watkins on the option, and he blazed around the left side of the Rebels’ defense for a 90-yard gallop.
Up 21-14 with 7:20 left in the half, GHS opted for an onside kick that did not turn out as planned. The ball failed to go 10 yards, and Fannin took over at the Cats’ 42. FCHS used screen passes to pick apart Gilmer’s defense, and it was Davenport once again who scored on a 12-yard draw on the drive’s ninth play.
With only 2:54 before the half, GHS had more scoring on its mind. Watkins broke a 40-yard run on first down, and a Rebel personal foul advanced the ball to their 35. Following a 3-yard loss, Rellinger hit tight end Bryson Daniel in stride down the seam for a 38-yard touchdown. GHS moved back ahead 28-21 with 1:49 on the clock.
Watkins was there again for GHS on the ensuing kickoff. Kukla’s kick was not fielded, and Watkins recovered to give the Cats possession at Fannin’s 28.Three plays layer, Rellinger kept the ball around the left edge and dove into the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown and 35-21 halftime lead.
FCHS recovered an onside kick to begin the second half. Callihan took care of yards on the ground while Davenport hauled in short passes and screens. The nine-play, 47-yard drive ended with a 2-yard Davenport keeper as Gilmer’s lead was trimmed to 35-28 four minutes into the third quarter.
GHS recovered Fannin’s next onside kick, and a Rebel personal foul on the play gave the Cats starting field position just 35 yards away from the goal line. Titus carried six straight times to advance GHS to the 5. Two plays later, Kiker took a 6-yard sweep into the end zone for a 42-28 advantage.
Gilmer’s defense made the plays needed on Fannin’s next three drives, which all ended with punts.
The Bobcats’ second drive of the half needed six plays to traverse 63 yards. Rellinger passed to Titus out of the back field on the drive’s second play for a 24-yard gain to the Rebels’ 42. GHS added its final touchdown on fourth down when Rellinger found his way through the heart of Fannin’s defense for a 33-yard score.
GHS led 49-28 with 10 minutes left in the game, and Fannin reached the end zone a final time. Its nine-play, 83-yard drive concluded on an 8-yard screen pass to Davenport.
Gilmer got the ball back with less than a minute to play and killed the clock.
“Our kids did a great job of executing and blocking the two fronts they were running,” Standard said. “Issac Rellinger did a really good job of reading it. On some of the plays he had to pull it and pitch it, and sometimes he had to pull it and run it. Then later they were letting us give it to the fullback and he was reading it well. I don’t want to put too much pressure on him, but he did a fine job tonight reading the option.
“If we can stay healthy, we can make some noise. We have to continue to get better in some areas, and I think we’re moving in the right direction.”
GHS hosts Murray County (0-2) Friday for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
JV wins, 22-14
The junior varsity Bobcats hosted North Murray last Thursday and started their season with a 22-14 win.
GHS fullback Michael Bushey got the Cats on the board in the second quarter with a 12-yard run for an 8-0 lead at the half. NMHS reached the end zone in the third, and Gilmer’s lead was cut to 8-6 with a quarter to play.
Bobcat Cheyne Smith scored twice in the fourth quarter on runs of 14 and 1 yard to extend the advantage to 22-6. NMHS drew within eight points, but Bobcat Hayden Calhoun was there to make an interception in the end zone, which was his second of the night. Teammate Hunter Britain also forced a fumble for the Cats.
Gilmer will host Adairsville Thursday, Sept. 8, at 5:30 p.m.