The Panthers were clicking in all three phases of the game and dealt rival Fannin County a 49-7 loss — the most lopsided defeat in series history.
To find a more one-sided game involving a team from Fannin County, you have to go back to 1975, when the Panthers handed East Fannin a 46-0 loss at Mike Colwell Memorial Stadium.
Just like that night 43 years ago, it was the Union County defense led by senior Chayton Schafer that set the tone, allowing the offense, and later, the special teams, to feed off the intensity.
Junior quarterback Pierson Allison accounted for five first half touchdowns – a career high and the first Panther responsible for five touchdowns over the first two quarters since Cole Wright vs Lumpkin County in the 2016 regular season finale.
A three-and-out on the first series gave Pierson Allison and the offense possession at the 41. Seven plays later, Allison, who connected on his first seven passes, hit a wide-open Chad Buzzard on a 5-yard check down out of the backfield for a 7-0 advantage.
Minutes later, a shanked Rebel punt gave Union the ball at the Fannin 30 and on the first play, Allison went up-top to Sawyer Drake for a 30-yard strike, deep down the sideline. Another three-and-out had the Panthers back in business. On the final play of the opening quarter, Allison kept it himself, carrying it 3 yards around the left edge for a 21-0 lead.
A sack on the ensuing Rebel series brought up another punting situation and Schafer came around the edge and got a piece of the kick, awarding Union excellent field position. After Buzzard converted a fourth down, Allison took a read-option keeper up the middle 14-yards for his fourth score and a 28-0 advantage.
Another sack forced a three-and-out and Union took over at the Fannin 38. Looking at 3rd-and-2 from the 30, Allison and Schafer connected on a tunnel screen and Schafer did the rest, taking it to the house from 30 yards out.
Union County 35, Fannin County 0
The Rebels would drive deep into Panther territory, where they had 1st-and-goal at the five. But on the final play of the half, facing 3rd-and-goal, Schafer jumped an inside route at the goal line for the interception.
The second half opened with Alec Scott taking the kickoff approximately 85 yards for another Panther score. With a running clock, the third quarter ended with Union still on top 42-0.
Both sides swapped touchdowns in the fourth as freshman Jonah Daniel responded to Fannin’s score with his first varsity touchdown – a 4-yard run-up-the-gut.
Union opens region play at Monticello next week.
For an in-depth recap, complete statistics, quotes from Coach Allison, Schafer, Scott, and more, pick up a North Georgia News or visit http://www.nganews.com after publication.
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