TIGER — From what Rabun County coach Jaybo Shaw has seen, this year’s Putnam County team is different from the ones that missed the postseason for the past 3 years. “This is a very much improved team from the past couple of years we have played them,” said Shaw, as the Wildcats host the War Eagles in a Region 8-AA opener for both teams at Frank Snyder Memorial Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Putnam’s 1-2 record can be misleading. The War Eagles played two strong opponents to open the season in North Oconee and Temple.

RABUN GAP — Matt Linn passed for 237 yards and five touchdowns and Robin Verginelli ran for 170 yards and two scores, helping the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee football team engineer a late rally in a 55-48 loss against Robbinsville (N.C.) in Robbinsville, N.C., last Friday night. The Eagles (2-2) trailed 34-20 at halftime and 41-27 heading into the fourth. They scored three times in the fourth, but the Black Knights (4-0) found the end zone two more times. “We had been moving the ball and scoring throughout the game,” coach Shawn Bryson said. “In the third quarter, Robbinsville put together a long drive and held the ball most of the time. We knew that we had to score points, and we did.”

(Editor’s note: This is the first part in a series of stories detailing my career as a sports journalist. I’m not sure how many stories I’ll tell, but I have some to discuss. Some good. Some bad. Some ugly. These are the stories I’ve shared with friends and family, although some I’ve never shared. Enjoy.) There’s one place a sports journalist’s rooting interest should lie when covering a game: the story. What outcome makes for the best story? As a beat reporter, you can’t help but get wrapped up in the team you’re covering: the players, the coaches, the atmosphere of home arenas.

Tallulah Falls School coaches have selected their Indian Athletes of the Month for August. 

Middle school girl:

Tallulah Falls School Middle School and varsity cross country runners gathered at Terrora Beach at Tallulah Gorge State Park to compete in the school’s annual quadrathlon last month. The strenuous, multi-discipline race included kayaking, swimming, biking and running. The middle school runners competed first, and were followed by the varsity squad. From the middle school, top female finishers included seventh-grader Haygen James of Demorest (58:23), eighth-grader Jenna Chesser of Cleveland (1:09:37), eighth-grader Daniel Prince of Demorest (1:09:53), seventh-grader Maggie Shelton of Cornelia (1:09:54) and Carsyn Griffis of Tallulah Falls (1:13:23).

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.

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.

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 — 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.