Sports

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Former Rabun County and current UGA quarterback Gunner Stockton (center) celebrates with teammate Jaden Reddell after the duo connect for a touchdown in Georgia’s 63-3 Sept. 5 win over Tennessee State. Stockton and the Bulldogs will host Western Kentucky on Sept. 12.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Former Rabun County and current UGA quarterback Gunner Stockton (center) celebrates with teammate Jaden Reddell after the duo connect for a touchdown in Georgia’s 63-3 Sept. 5 win over Tennessee State. Stockton and the Bulldogs will host Western Kentucky on Sept. 12.

Gunner, UGA cruise past Tennessee State in season opener

ATHENS – In what was the hottest game ever played at Sanford Stadium – 101 degrees at kickoff and even warmer with the heat index – the No. 3 ranked Georgia football team’s offense aligned with the scorching temperatures. The Bulldogs defeated Tennessee State 63-3 to open the new season.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County volleyball players celebrate during their home match versus East Hall on Sept. 8. The Lady Cats were victorious in the match 2-0, winning by scores of 25-21 and 25-19.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County volleyball players celebrate during their home match versus East Hall on Sept. 8. The Lady Cats were victorious in the match 2-0, winning by scores of 25-21 and 25-19.

RCHS volleyball splits home matches with Fannin, East Hall as Area play nears

TIGER – The Rabun County High School volleyball team split its two home matches versus Fannin County and Class 4A East Hall on Tuesday night, Sept. 8, giving the Lady Cats a record of 9-12 on the season.
Submitted Photo. Pictured are some of Rabun County Recreation Department cross country runners after the first meet at Athens Christian.

Submitted Photo. Pictured are some of Rabun County Recreation Department cross country runners after the first meet at Athens Christian.

Big number of rec cross country runners torching courses early

The Rabun County Recreation Department cross country team has started off this season with a bang. This year the program has 39 runners -- an impressive increase from last year’s 23 runners.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. In his first regular-season game as a starter, Bulldog quarterback Gunner Stockton of Tiger pulls the ball down on a scramble against visiting Marshall on Aug. 30, 2025. Georgia opens its 2026 season again at home as Tennessee State comes to Athens.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. In his first regular-season game as a starter, Bulldog quarterback Gunner Stockton of Tiger pulls the ball down on a scramble against visiting Marshall on Aug. 30, 2025. Georgia opens its 2026 season again at home as Tennessee State comes to Athens.

Stockton would have been one of Vince Dooley’s ‘favorite players’

Vince Dooley is arguably the most impactful figure in the history of the University of Georgia.An athletic director for the latter half of his career, but most famously known as Georgia’s head football coach before that, Dooley coached several legendary Bulldogs in his 24 years, which included a...
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Starting quarterback Gunner Stockton is greeted by fans and fellow students during his “Dawg Walk” prior to the Ole Miss game in Athens on Oct. 18, 2025.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Starting quarterback Gunner Stockton is greeted by fans and fellow students during his “Dawg Walk” prior to the Ole Miss game in Athens on Oct. 18, 2025.

Gunner to ‘make memories’ in final UGA season

The Georgia football team has several goals for itself as the 2026 season nears, although the Bulldogs will claim the “one day at a time” mentality.
Photo courtesy of DJ Shockley. Former UGA quarterback DJ Shockley goes airborne on a run versus South Carolina during his playing days. Shockley, now a sports anchor with Fox 5 Atlanta, was Georgia’s starter in 2005.

Photo courtesy of DJ Shockley. Former UGA quarterback DJ Shockley goes airborne on a run versus South Carolina during his playing days. Shockley, now a sports anchor with Fox 5 Atlanta, was Georgia’s starter in 2005.

Former Bulldog quarterbacks talk Stockton, impact of a championship on his Bulldog legacy

There’s a special fraternity in Athens, Ga. But this fraternity doesn’t call home on South Milledge Avenue, or boast large greek letters, like the many houses on that street in Athens.
Photo via @gstockton14 on Instagram. Gunner Stockton (left) poses for a photo with George Bobo on Stockton’s signing day in December 2021. Stockton began training with Bobo at age 6 and now plays for his son and University of Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo and with grandson Drew Bobo, Georgia’s starting center.

Photo via @gstockton14 on Instagram. Gunner Stockton (left) poses for a photo with George Bobo on Stockton’s signing day in December 2021. Stockton began training with Bobo at age 6 and now plays for his son and University of Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo and with grandson Drew Bobo, Georgia’s starting center.

Fear not a real thing for Gunner Stockton

George Bobo has trained plenty of successful quarterbacks during his lifetime. Those names include current James Madison head football coach Billy Napier and Tulane offensive coordinator Russ Callaway, just to name a few.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Former Rabun County standout and current Georgia starting quarterback Gunner Stockton prepares to release his pass around Ole Miss defensive lineman Will Echoles Sanford Stadium on Oct. 18, 2025.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Former Rabun County standout and current Georgia starting quarterback Gunner Stockton prepares to release his pass around Ole Miss defensive lineman Will Echoles Sanford Stadium on Oct. 18, 2025.

Dooley: Watching Stockton is ‘like watching family’

Derek Dooley has a perspective unlike others when watching University of Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton play. That perspective is not solely a result of Dooley – the son of the late Vince Dooley – having long-tenured coaching experience at the collegiate level.