The Franklin County Rebels beat the Chattanooga Central Purple Pounders 47-14 at home Friday for their second win of the season.
The Rebels took control of the game with an offensive outburst in the second quarter that saw them score four touchdowns in less than six minutes of game time, and they never looked back from there in the blowout victory.
After a punt by the Pounders on the opening possession of the game, the Rebels drove inside of Chattanooga’s 20-yard line before their drive stalled and ended on an incomplete pass on fourth and long.
The Pounders wasted no time on their next drive as they recorded an 85-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the possession to take the early lead. The Rebels blocked the ensuing point-after attempt, putting the score at 6-0 with 4:25 left in the opening period.
The Rebels answered back quickly with another long drive, and Manny Scott scored on a run from four yards out on the first play of the second quarter with the point-after attempt by Jon Askins giving Franklin County a 7-6 advantage.
The Rebels forced a fumble on the next Chattanooga drive which was recovered by Austin Meaker for a turnover. Scott scored another rushing touchdown a few plays later to give Franklin County a 14-6 lead with 10:28 remaining in the half.
The Pounders elected to go for it on fourth and long at their own 20-yard line, and the Rebels made the stop to get excellent field position.
Quarterback CJ Seals connected with Kai Baker on a 24-yard touchdown pass on the next play from scrimmage to bring the lead up to 20-6 with less than nine minutes remaining in the second quarter.
The Pounders forced a turnover on the next Franklin County possession as they picked off a pass from Seals and ran it back to Franklin County’s 27-yard line.
However, the Pounders wouldn’t get a chance to capitalize on their great field position as Na’Zaiyah Holman picked off a pass on the first play of the ensuing drive and ran it back for a defensive touchdown. The score gave Franklin County a 26-6 lead with 6:31 left on the clock for the half.
The Rebels had two more trips into Chattanooga’s territory in the first half, but those possessions would both end in turnovers on downs. Chattanooga's possession in between those two drives would end in a fumble which was recovered by Ke’Andre Johnson for a turnover.
The Rebels led 26-6 at halftime.
After a lost fumble by the Rebels and a punt by the Pounders, the Rebels added to their lead with Scott reaching the end zone on a 16-yard run for his third rushing touchdown of the day. The score made it a 33-6 game with five minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Another trip into Franklin County territory by the Pounders would be cut short by a turnover on their next drive with NaShawn Holman intercepting a pass to halt the possession.
A long pass from Seals to Na’Zaiyah Holman on the ensuing drive set up a short touchdown run by Johnson to put the score at 40-6 with two minutes left in the third quarter.
The Rebels’ defense forced its fifth turnover of the day on the last play of the third quarter with Eric Jones recovering a fumble to give the ball back to Franklin County.
Brayden Henley broke off a 16-yard touchdown run on the next drive for the Rebels to bring the deficit up to 47-6 with six minutes remaining in the contest.
The Pounders were able to score one more touchdown with two minutes remaining after the Rebels rotated their starting defense out of the game, but that would be it for Chattanooga as Franklin County won by 33 points.
Scott carried the ball 22 times for 144 yards in the game.
Seals completed 13 of his 25 passes for 170 yards.
Na’Zaiyah Holman caught three passes for 76 yards, and Kai Baker recorded two receptions for 36 yards.
NaShawn Holman caught four passes for 34 yards and had one carry for 12 yards.
Jones ran the ball three times for 18 yards and had four catches for 24 yards. Henley had three carries for 27 yards.
With the win, the Rebels improved to 2-0 on the season.
They will next play Friday at home against Columbia Central High School. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
