Super Bowl Comeback: Bobcats Defeat Rebels 21-13

The youth 11U football squads of the Gilmer Bobcats and the Fannin Rebels faced off in Tiger, Georgia at Rabun County High School in the youth Super Bowl in a matchup that would be unforgettable, as the Bobcats overcame a 13-0 deficit in the first quarter to outscore Fannin 21-0 the rest of the way to win the championship 21-13.The Rebels got it going early on in this contest, opening the game with a sixty-one yard drive that ended on a long touchdown run by Michael Pellegrino, giving Fannin a 7-0 lead with 5:15 left in the first. Fannin would frustrate Gilmer and get the ball back for another touchdown drive by Pellegrino to put Fannin ahead 13-0 with 3:20 remaining in the opening quarter.

Frustrated but still working hard, Gilmer started clicking on all cylinders in the second quarter, putting together a fifty-two yard drive that saw CJ Streicher take off for a 28 yard rushing touchdown on fourth down to cut Fannin’s advantage to 13-7 with 8:35 left in the second quarter. The Bobcats would strike again just before the end of the second period, as Streicher would again reach the end zone to give Gilmer its first lead of the game at 14-13.

Gilmer would add to their lead in the third quarter, as the team would get the ball to start the period and would ultimately score with 1:30 left on the clock to make it a 21-13 ballgame.

The Bobcats would run the clock for the majority of the fourth quarter, but Fannin would have one last chance, taking possession on its own forty-nine yard line with 1:34 left in the game. The Rebels would reach the Gilmer twenty-two yard line with a chance to tie the game, but unfortunately they were unable to reach the end zone. Gilmer would win the game and the Super Bowl by the final score of 21-13.