Regional

PREP ROUNDUP: Rabun softball cruises past Clarke Central

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SOFTBALL Rabun County: The Rabun County softball team cruised past Clarke Central 11-3 in a non-region contest last Friday. The victory rebounded the Wildcats from a 15-7 loss against Oglethorpe County last Thursday. Rabun had 11 hits, led by Cailyn Dickerson’s three. Sarah Sprinkle added two hits, two RBIs and scored a run. Alyssa Fair and Birdie Jordan each recorded two RBIs.

Rabun focuses on health, basics during bye week

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TIGER — After getting off to a healthy 2-0 start to the football season, Rabun County used its first bye week to focus on the health of its players, while keeping fundamentals sharp. “It is a chance for guys to get their bodies back healthy. Also, a great chance for us to start our preparation for Stephens County,” coach Jaybo Shaw said. The Wildcats visit Stephens County at 7:30 p.m. Friday after a week of rest, recovery and added preparation.

Cats aim to extend Indians’ losing skid

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TIGER — The Stephens County football team took a second straight loss last week. Rabun County would like to see the Indians take a third straight loss Friday night. In their return to action, the Wildcats visit Stephens at 7:30 p.m. Friday. “(The bye week) came at a great time for us, so that we could get back to some things that we haven't had time to get to, with playing North Murray on the short week after Bremen,” Rabun coach Jaybo Shaw said. “We had a tough week of practice and kept pushing our guys, because we still have a long way to go to get to where we want or need to be.”

Rabun Gap scores three TDs in fourth, rallies by Franklin

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RABUN GAP — Matt Linn tossed three touchdowns, Pato Torres ran for two scores and the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee football team scored three times in the fourth to beat Franklin (N.C.) 45-35 on the road last Friday night. The Eagles (2-1) trailed 21-17 at halftime and rallied with a third-quarter score and three more scores in the fourth to earn their second win of the season. Rabun Gap coach Shawn Bryson said the offense’s strong ability to put points on the scoreboard with the amount of playmakers getting involved was impressive.

PREP ROUNDUP: Rabun girls first, boys third at Rabun Gap meet

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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.

Chargers’ defense grounds Eagles’ offense

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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.

Former Rabun QB Fisher named Player of the Week

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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.

Rabun shut out by Social Circle

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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.

Rabun takes losses vs. Cherokee Bluff, West Hall

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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.