‘The blessing is in the wait’

Since enrolling at the University of Georgia in January 2022 and greeting the Georgia football team as one of its new highly rated prospects out of high school, former Rabun County standout quarterback Gunner Stockton has been waiting for the opportunity to make his mark. 

Stockton got that chance on Saturday, Dec. 7, when he came in to lead the now No. 2 Bulldogs to a 22-19 SEC championship overtime win over No. 3 Texas. 

However, the great effort Stockton put forth in the second half of the SEC championship wasn’t to propel himself into the spotlight and remind the nation of his talent to throw the football. 

Stockton’s effort in the win over Texas was for everyone but himself. 

It was for starting UGA quarterback Carson Beck, who went down with an elbow injury; for his Bulldog teammates; and for the entire Bulldog Nation. 

From leading the Bulldogs 75 yards for a touchdown score at the start of the third quarter to taking helmet-to-helmet contact just to gain an extra yard in OT, Stockton showed his true love for the University of Georgia. 

“This goes back to the love I have for everybody in the locker room – all the seniors. I wanted them to go out the right way,” Stockton said immediately after the win in Atlanta. “This is awesome. It’s just special because of the guys I get to do it with.” 

‘We’ve got this’ 

Stockton was thrust into the SEC championship game in a way that no one wanted – the unfortunate injury of his teammate and friend Beck. 

Just before the halftime break, Beck was struck in the arm while attempting a pass which ended in the Georgia star falling to the ground in pain. 

While Beck fumbled the ball due to the hit, Georgia recovered and the half ended with Georgia trailing the Longhorns 6-3. 

“We were really hoping that Carson was OK,” Stockton’s father Rob Stockton told The Clayton Tribune. 

Given that both Stockton and Beck have a tight-knit relationship as fellow gunslingers but more importantly friends, the Stockton and the Beck families share the same sentiments. 

This was evident at the start of the fourth quarter when Sherrie Stockton, mother of Gunner, and Beck’s mother Tracy shared a moment of solidarity for their sons with Beck saying “we’ve got this.” 

Carson Beck and the Bulldogs went into the locker room but returned for the second half with No. 14 under center and looking to light a fire in favor of the Red and 

Black. 

“I didn’t say one word to him,” head coach Kirby Smart said of when Georgia made the quarterback switch to Stockton. “Coach (Mike) Bobo did, all of the coaches did and (Stockton) believed.” 

A true battle in the South

At the start of the third quarter, the Bulldogs marched down the field and completed a 10-play, 75-yard drive that concluded with a 10-yard touchdown run for running back Trevor Etienne. 

The score gave Georgia a 10-6 lead with 10:27 left in the quarter. 

Georgia’s defense seemed to be rejuvenated after the halftime period, allowing no scores from the Texas offense in the third. UGA kicker Peyton Woodring would add a field goal to extend the lead to 13-6. 

Leading the Georgia defense was junior defensive back Daylen Everette who had two interceptions in the game, earning him the game’s “Most Valuable Player” award. 

The Longhorns won the fourth quarter by outscoring Georgia 10-3 and tying the game with just 18 seconds left. 

Smart ran just one play in the last of regulation and chose to let the remaining seconds expire in regulation to push both teams into the first overtime. 

Texas got the first crack at the end zone but had to settle for a field goal amid a tough Georgia defensive stand in the red zone. 

Stockton then began his first-ever action in an overtime situation, completing a nine-yard pass to tight end Oscar Delp. 

A two-yard loss on a pass to wide receiver Arian Smith put the Dawgs behind the chains at third-and-three but Stockton found Delp again, this time for a four-yard gain and a first down. 

After a two-yard run for Etienne, Stockton took matters into his own hands on an eight-yard scamper for another first down. 

However, at the end of the play, Stockton took a massive hit to the head, knocking off his helmet. Despite the collision, Stockton had the ball secured in his arm.

The hit was initially called as a targeting foul but was overturned, forcing Stockton to return to the sideline for one play, despite Stockton immediately standing up and putting his helmet back on.

“That’s Gunner Stockton,” Rabun County football head coach Michael Davis said of his former player’s toughness. “He wasn’t going to lay down … what a tough nut. To me, that epitomizes what he is about and how tough he is. (Stockton) has that ‘it’ factor. He’s just a winner.” 

Before taking the head coaching position at RCHS, Davis was Stockton’s offensive coordinator for one season.

Jaybo Shaw, Stockton’s former RCHS head coach, posted on “X,” “Stud! Winners WIN! So very proud of this guy. Love you, G!” Shaw will be the new head football coach at Dawson County High School in 2025 after most recently coaching at Greenville High School in South Carolina.

At RCHS, Stockton set a state record for career passing touchdowns and approached Trevor Lawrence’s mark of career yards passing.

One final play in the SEC championship was all Georgia needed as the resilient Beck returned to give the handoff to Etienne who punched into the end zone for the game-winning score and Georgia’s first SEC title since 2022. 

Stockton finished with 71 passing yards on 12-of-16 completions with eight rushing yards. 

A proud family from Rabun County

Dawg Nation has expressed how proud it is of Stockton over the last week, but there is no one more proud of Stockton than his mother and father, who watched from the stands of Mercedes-Benz Stadium as their son got to live out his dream of playing for Georgia. 

Rob and Sherrie Stockton both spoke of their reactions when their son stepped in to play. It was somewhat of a bitter-sweet moment as they were proud of the chance bestowed upon their son but concerned for Beck’s well-being. 

“Every emotion went through our bodies,” Rob Stockton said. 

The Stocktons used words like “excitement” and “worry” when describing how they felt at the start of the third quarter. They both spoke about their son’s preparation over the past few years and how it’s important to realize the opportunities that God brings when you wait. 

“The blessing is in the wait,” Rob Stockton said. “God’s timing is the best timing.” 

Both of Stockton’s parents mentioned there weren’t many words spoken as they celebrated with their son as they tried to think back to what was said. Tears were shed and hugs were given. 

There was no need for words between a happy Stockton family. 

The love for a loyal Gunner prepared for battle

In the day and age of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) and the transfer portal that is the new world of college football, Stockton has stayed the course with the team he loves and wants to be with – the Georgia Bulldogs. 

The loyalty he has shown UGA and his teammates has gained him the respect and love of his teammates, coaches and the Georgia faithful. 

“It’s a credit to Gunner and his humility,” Rob Stockton said. “Gunner values loyalty to the people he loves and the University of Georgia.” 

Stockton’s biggest fans are his parents, but the nation got to see viral clips of his teammates showing their fandom of the Tiger product. 

As Stockton finished speaking with ESPN’s Holly Rowe, Delp stole the attention by yelling out “He’s a Dawg. Rabun County, baby!” 

During the game, another one of Stockton’s tight ends, Lawson Luckie, gave Stockton a word of advice before leading Georgia to an SEC title win. 

“If you trust yourself as much as I trust you, we’re in great shape,” Luckie told Stockton. 

Smart also expressed his love and respect for Stockton after the big win, as he began to get emotional and choked up, Smart told the nation what Stockton is. 

“This kid is a winner, man. This kid is special. He’s a winner,” Smart said of Stockton as he walked away from the interview with emotion. 

As Rob and Sherrie Stockton reflected on what was a crazy weekend of emotions, they both agreed the love their son has received from his teammates, coaches, fans and hometown community has been a special gesture to witness. 

Last Saturday was an example of what can happen when respect and loyalty is earned, not given. 

“That’s one of the things that I’m so grateful for,” Sherrie Stockton said of her son’s support. “The love and respect that he has for his teammates, coaches and the University of Georgia, it’s awesome to see that reciprocated,” added Rob Stockton. 

Both Rob and Sherrie Stockton also mentioned all of the support the community of Rabun County has sent toward their son and their family over the last few days. The wishes of congratulations and joy has been overwhelming when witnessing how Rabun County has reacted to their former Wildcat star quarterback succeeding on the collegiate level. 

“We’re so thankful and so blessed for the love and support from this community,” said Rob Stockton, who played college football at FCS (formerly Division I-AA) national champion Georgia Southern under head coach Erk Russell, who was UGA’s defensive coordinator during the Dawgs’ 1980 national championship season. 

“We’re grateful to be from Rabun County,” Rob Stockton said. 

Preparing for the Sugar Bowl

Thanks to the 22-19 victory over Texas, the Georgia Bulldogs have been ranked as the second-best team in the country and were awarded the second seed and a bye in the upcoming College Football Playoff that will last from Friday, Dec. 20, to Monday, Jan. 20. 

As of The Clayton Tribune’s press time, the injury status of Beck was not confirmed. The senior sustained an injury to his UCL located in his elbow of his right throwing arm.

It is unclear whether Beck will need surgery, and if he will miss the remainder of the season. 

With the status of Beck up in the air as of Tuesday, Dec. 10, Stockton should have a strong chance to make his first career start for the Bulldogs in one of the biggest games of his career. 

Both Davis and the Stocktons agreed there shouldn’t be much difference in how Stockton prepares for the Sugar Bowl which will be in New Orleans at 8:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. 

Georgia will take on the winner of Notre Dame and the University of Indiana in the first round.

No matter which team the Bulldogs play and no matter who is under center, Stockton will be ready. 

“I think he’s going to go in every day and prepare like he always does,” Davis said. “I can’t say that he’s going to do anything different because he put himself in a position when he got called on Saturday night, to be the best for that team. He had prepared. That (performance) was not by coincidence, I promise you.”