#TeamFYNsports games of the week
Sports, Team FYN Sports September 2, 2020
Starting this year, #TeamFYNsports will be bringing you their top football games of the week for our local area football teams. This week, we have some rivalries on the horizon, with four local area teams going head to head.
Team FYN sports director Jake West and Fannin County Rec. Department Athletic Coordinator Tim Towe will also be giving you their picks to win these games of the week and we will be tracking their pick ’em record going forward.
- Fannin County Rebels @ Union County Panthers
If there was ever a year for Fannin County to be able to break their 6 year losing streak agains the Union County Panthers, it would be this year. Fannin is coming off an impressive 5-6 season last year, and with all the returning upper-classmen they have this year, this is the year that they have to make some moves. Even Coach Chad Cheatham said himself at media day, they are poised to make a run. Union County on the other hand is coming off of a 10-2 record last year, where it looked like they were going to go deep into the playoffs until losing a 7-14 game against Metter High School. Head Coach Brian Allison has turned Union County into a juggernaut over there in Blairsville, losing a combined four games in the past two years. However with the loss of their starting Quarterback Pierson Allison to graduation, we will if the newcomer behind center can handle the pressure of Friday Night Lights.
Jake’s Pick: Union County
Tim’s Pick: Fannin County
2. Gilmer County Bobcats @ Pickens Dragons
The Pickens Dragons finished 2019 with a 6-5 overall record and tied for third in their division. Their offense was crazy hot last year, putting up an average of 31.6 points. We will see if they have improved any on the defensive side of the ball however, where they managed to give up an average of 26.2 points per 
game in the previous season. When watching Pickens last year however, one of their more impressive games came against then region rival Gilmer, who they will be playing to kickoff this season. This season the anticipated Gilmer-Pickens game will not be a region game due to the realignment that took place in the offseason. Even though this is not going to be a region game this year, you can tell that it still means just as much to the players and coaches as it did when it counted against their region record. Gilmer is coming off of a 4-6 overall record last year in 2019. But, as rebuilds go it looks like Gilmer is on the backend of theirs and should start putting together some winning teams. Also, with Gilmer being bumped down a level, their opponents in their new region should play more to their level. I just think that the speed and power of the Pickens offense will be too much for the Bobcats to handle.
Jake’s Pick: Pickens County
Tim’s Pick: Gilmer County
Union County softball seniors shine on senior night, beat Fannin
Lady Panthers, Sports, Team FYN Sports August 28, 2020
Senior Trinity Queen
The Union County Panthers (4-1, 0-0 region) took on the Fannin County Rebels (0-4, 0-2 region) last night in a non-region game. It just so happened to be the Union County Panthers senior night, and their two seniors really showed up and showed out.
Senior Hannah Patton
Senior Trinity Queen, number 13, started on the mound for the Panthers. She was able to keep the Fannin County Rebels guessing, striking out 7 through 3 innings and not allowing a hit. Sierra Burnette came in in relief, pitching the last inning of the game and striking out one while not giving up a hit either, as the Panthers combined to pitch a no hitter!
The offense was ignited in the first inning by senior Hannah Patton, when she doubled on a hard hit ground ball to left field that scoredChloe Potts, who had also doubled earlier in the inning. Patton would later score on a ground ball hit by Lexi Sissum.
In the second inning, the Panthers would really tack on some runs. Two errors in the inning on balls put in play by Lexi Sissum and Emma Roxbury, a walk by Chloe Potts and a single by Caley Davis and Senior Hannah Patton would help the Panthers score 6 runs and take a 8-0 lead heading into the third.
The Fannin County Rebels just could never figure out Trinity Queens stuff, being unable to answer in the third inning as 3 of the 4 batters that came up to the plate in the third were struck out.
Jayden Bailey was on the mound for Fannin and took the loss, tossing three innings and allowing 13 runs on 11 hits.
The Panthers bats were unstoppable, as Davis, Ansley Collins and Patton all managed multiple hits.
The Seniors for Union really stole the spotlight last night, and not just because it was senior night. Trinity Queen was able to throw a combined no hitter and drove in a run while Hannah Patton was able to go 2-3 at the plate and drive in 3 RBI’s while going 7-7 in the field.
Fannin County will take on Chestatee in their next game on Monday, August 31st at 5:30 at home. Union County will take on Lumpkin County in Lumpkin on August 31st.