The Gilmer High junior varsity Bobcats hit the football field last Thursday while the varsity Bobcats enjoyed a bye week.
The younger Cats hosted the Fannin County Rebels and jumped to a quick lead in the first half before Fannin was able to even the score in the third quarter. However, after a flurry of fourth-quarter interceptions and defensive touchdown by Gilmer’s Dakota Nelson, it was the Bobcats who emerged on top for an 18-12 win.
GHS fired out of the gate offensively as Fannin had no answer for the Bobcats’ triple-option attack.
Gilmer received the opening onside kick and drove 55 yards on six plays. A 29-yard run by halfback Kyle Cowart moved the Cats to Fannin’s 11-yard line. Two plays later, fullback Wyatt Stokes took a hand-off through the left side of the line for a 9-yard touchdown run.
After forcing a Fannin punt, GHS was back on the field offensively at its 10. Consecutive runs by Cowart to start the drive torched the outside edge for gains of 15 and 25 yards. Mason Smith also hit the outside for a 14-yard run, while a pair of 7-yard rushes by Cowart advanced GHS to Fannin’s 25.
On the ensuing play, Bobcat quarterback Isaac Rellinger made his way through the left side of the line on an option keeper and raced to the end zone. The failed conversion gave GHS a 12-0 lead in the second quarter.
The Rebels responded on their next drive and strung together a nine-play, 77-yard touchdown drive. The score came on a 23-yard pass across the middle as FCHS trailed 12-6 with 6:52 left in the half.
The teams traded punts to end the second quarter and traded the ball on downs to start the third. Fannin’s second drive of the half resulted in six points. The Rebels needed just four plays to cover 39 yards, and the touchdown came on a 12-yard pass that was tipped and bobbled before it was caught.
The failed conversion evened the score at 12-all in the fourth quarter.
Gilmer was forced to punt, and Fannin took over at its 17. Bobcat Talyn Curtis was there for a sack, and on the drive’s sixth play, Rellinger intercepted a Rebel pass. However, Rellinger was intercepted two plays later.
But there was still more to come. On Fannin’s next offensive play, pressure was applied by Bobcat defensive lineman Kyler Norton, who disrupted the pass. Nelson made the interception and returned it 49 yards for a GHS touchdown.
The score moved Gilmer ahead 18-12 with 49 seconds to play. Fannin was able to cross midfield on its final possession, but it stalled at the 25 as a final incompletion prompted a celebration for GHS players.