MONTICELLO — In the most heavily penalized game of the season, Rabun County’s playmakers made up for the mistakes. Gunner Stockton hooked up with Sam Adams for four scores in a 49-20 victory against the Monticello Hurricanes last Friday night. The Wildcats managed to overcome the most penalties they’ve received so far this season, rolling to a 35-7 halftime advantage. They were penalized 12 times for a season-high 197 yards.

SOFTBALL Rabun County: With a sweep of Social Circle in the first round of the Region 8-AA tournament, the Rabun County softball team clinched the GHSA Class AA state playoffs at Social Circle last Wednesday. The Wildcats won 10-5 in Game 1, before rallying to a 9-8 victory in Game 2. “These were hard-fought games and our Lady Wildcats never gave up,” coach Angela Shepheard said. “Their determination and desire pushed them to accomplish beyond the goals we had set.”

TIGER — Behind some timely kills and opposing errors, the Rabun County volleyball team earned a 2-0 sweeping win against Putnam County, before hanging on to beat Union County 2-1on senior night at Ken Byrd Court last Thursday night. The pair of Area 8-AA/A public wins snapped a three-match losing skid and improved the Wildcats to 10-19 overall record and a 4-0 mark in area competition. Rabun opened its three-team meet by beating Putnam 25-6 and 25-19. Beth Payne made a kill to give the Wildcats a 15-4 advantage in the opening set, and Payne found Gracie Deetz for a kill to extend the lead to 16-5.

SOFTBALL Rabun County: Alyssa Fair helped keep Towns County scoreless after the third inning in the Rabun County softball team’s 7-3 victory in its regular-season finale and senior night Monday night. Fair allowed two hits for three unearned runs with two strikeouts and no walks, as the Wildcats picked up their third consecutive win and sixth win in the last seven games.

TIGER — As celebratory firework smoke danced across the field, the Rabun County football team enjoyed its first Region 8-AA win. Gunner Stockton tossed four touchdown passes, Brody Jarrard ran for two scores and the Wildcats dominated the Putnam County War Eagles in a 55-8 rout at Frank Snyder Memorial Stadium last Friday night. The Wildcats, who scored a season-high last week and remained unbeaten through four games, had a stronger offensive start than the previous week, scoring on their first two drives to take a 13-0 lead with 4:27 remaining in the opening period.

TIGER — Rabun County and Monticello had polar opposite starts to their respective football seasons. While the Wildcats remain undefeated, the Hurricanes remain winless. Rabun travels for its second Region 8-AA contest Friday, visiting Monticello for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff in Monticello. Rabun coach Jaybo Shaw doesn’t want his team to underestimate the Hurricanes, despite their record.

RABUN GAP — Robin Verginelli rushed for 160 yards and the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee football team used a second-half scoring surge to beat Andrews (N.C.) 39-14 in Andrews, N.C., last Friday night. The Eagles trailed 7-6 at halftime and rallied with a 33-point second half performance, while limiting the Wildcats (2-2) to a third-quarter touchdown. “We made some mistakes in the first half that hurt us,” Eagles coach Shawn Bryson said. “In the third quarter, our defense gave us a spark by causing a fumble, which we were able to scoop and score. Also in the second half, our offense got going.”

Evan Prince finished second in the boys’ 5K and Sophie Alexander placed fifth in the girls’ 5K for the Tallulah Falls cross country team among 12 scoring schools at the 15th annual Cookies ‘n Quotes Cross Country Festival at TFS last Tuesday. Rabun County and Rabun Gap-Nacoochee were among competing schools at the event. Prince ran the 5K’s hilly course in 17:26.73, finishing 41 seconds behind course record-setter and state champion Graham Blanks of Athens Academy.

SOFTBALL Rabun County: Ayahna Jenkins had four RBIs and scored two runs, Isabella Green added three RBIs and scored two runs and the Rabun County softball team capitalized on base-running chances in an 11-2 win against the Monticello Hurricanes last Thursday. Jenkins and Green each blasted triples and Mary Lovell added a double with two RBIs. Sarah Sprinkle, Birdie Jordan and Danielle Loggins scored two runs apiece for the Wildcats (6-5, 3-3 Region 8-AA). Rabun picked up its third straight win and second straight against region opponents.

TOCCOA — Gunner Stockton threw for 258 yards and three touchdowns, as the Rabun County football team capitalized on Stephens County’s mistakes and endured a 1-hour lightning delay to cruise to a 44-7 win last Friday night. “We fought through some adversity and I’m just really, really proud of them,” Wildcats coach Jaybo Shaw said. “It wasn’t the prettiest game, but winning against good opponents is too hard, especially in Georgia. I’m really proud of our football team for continuing to fight.” Playing in their final non-region game of the season, the Wildcats remained undefeated and improved to 3-0.