CROSS COUNTRY Rabun County: Molly Jo Wright finished fourth overall and Amaranta Melgarejo placed fifth to help the Rabun County girls win a cross country meet at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee last Thursday. Rabun’s Nick Bradley placed 11th overall in the boys’ race and teammates Lazaro Garcia and Levi Loveless finished 12th and 13th, respectively, as the team finished third. Smoky Mountain (N.C.) finished second in the girls’ race, with Franklin (N.C.) third, Pisgah (N.C.) fourth, Oconee Christian Academy fifth and Rabun Gap sixth.

RABUN GAP — Providence Day’s defensive line pressured the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee football team’s offense throughout, challenging the run game and not allowing much time to throw. “They were definitely the best group of linemen that we've faced. Maybe even one of the best teams we've faced,” said Eagles coach Shawn Bryson after a 43-7 loss last Friday. The Chargers (2-0) scored all of their points in the first half, leading 21-0 after the first quarter.

Tennessee Tech quarterback Bailey Fisher, a former Rabun County QB who led the Wildcats to a GHSA Class AA state championship appearance in 2017, was named STATS FCS National Offensive Player of the Week on Monday. According to Tennessee Tech’s athletic department, Fisher’s recognition is the first national offensive player of the week accolade for the program since 2012. Fisher was named the Ohio Valley Conference’s Offensive Player of the Week for the second time in his career Sunday.

TIGER — Social Circle capitalized on a few timely hits in the 4th inning and the Rabun County softball team couldn’t keep up in a 9-0 loss at home last Thursday. The Wildcats dropped to 2-4 overall and 1-2 in Region 8-AA competition after their second straight loss. Social Circle plated four runs in the 4th to take a 5-0 lead, before adding three runs in the 5th.

TIGER — The Rabun County volleyball team hosted Cherokee Bluff and West Hall for a three-team meet and came away with a pair of losses at Rabun County’s Ken Byrd Court last Thursday. The Wildcats forced a third set with Cherokee Bluff, before falling 2-1 (25-11, 28-26, 15-7). The visiting Bears raced to a 9-4 advantage in the final set after Rabun committed a service error. Cherokee Bluff’s Sage Sutulovich made a kill to extend the lead to 12-5. The Wildcats responded with Ali Ramey setting up Destiny Deetz for a kill on the ensuing serve.

Students, faculty and staff at Tallulah Falls School now have access to a new sports fitness center, designed to enhance physical fitness and athletic performance. The premier facility features specialized exercise equipment, including four double-sided combo racks for squatting and bench pressing, various Matrix selectorized machines, a multi-use monkey bar rig for functional training and various other modalities to help with fitness routines. The new fitness center also has several new cardio machines such as treadmills, bikes, rowing machines, SkiErgs and an elliptical/stair climber. “Our commitment to physical fitness and athletic performance remains steadfast,” said President and Head of School Larry A. Peevy. “This is another great addition to the TFS experience.”

TIGER — When the Rabun County football team tangled with North Murray in 2018, it had to fend off a late comeback attempt from a passing attack. The passing game wasn’t the mighty beast in this year’s meeting, however, it was an option run game. Gunner Stockton threw three touchdown passes and ran for another as the Wildcats shook off a slow start, contained the Mountaineers’ option offense and earned a 38-17 victory at Frank Snyder Memorial Stadium last Friday night.

TIGER — Ashley Crosby had 14 kills and four aces to power the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee volleyball team past Rabun County 2-0 (25-9, 25-9) in a three-team match at Rabun County’s Ken Byrd Court on Tuesday night. Lexy Davis set up Crosby for kills throughout the night, finishing with six assists in the first set against the Wildcats. The Eagles used a 12-0 run to overpower Rabun and take a commanding 17-6 lead in the first set. David fed Crosby for a kill to tie things at 6, before Gianna Sparks’ kill put the Eagles ahead for good at 7-6.

The Rabun County softball team rallied in the third inning to rout Putnam County 10-3 in its region opener in Eatonton last Thursday. After trailing 1-0 after the 2nd inning, the Wildcats (2-2, 1-0 Region 8-AA) plated three runs across each of the next three innings and added another in the 6th. The Wildcats host Social Circle in another region contest at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.