Sports

Submitted. The Rabun County boys basketball team will receive these championship rings pictured here before the opening football game on Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. The Wildcats went 30-2 last season, winning the Class A Division I state title over Southwest.

Submitted. The Rabun County boys basketball team will receive these championship rings pictured here before the opening football game on Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. The Wildcats went 30-2 last season, winning the Class A Division I state title over Southwest.

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Wildcat championship hoops to receive rings before kickoff

Wesley Branch
Thursday, August 27, 2026
The Rabun County High School 2025-26 boys basketball team will receive its state championship rings on Friday, Aug. 28, at 7 p.m. before the RCHS football team’s season-opener versus Metter, the school announced on Monday.
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County football players break through the cheerleaders’ handmade banner on Aug. 14 prior to the Wildcats’ scrimmage on the road against Franklin, N.C. RCHS kicks off its regular season at home on Aug. 28 versus the Tigers of Metter, led by former Wildcat coach and player Lee Shaw.

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County football players break through the cheerleaders’ handmade banner on Aug. 14 prior to the Wildcats’ scrimmage on the road against Franklin, N.C. RCHS kicks off its regular season at home on Aug. 28 versus the Tigers of Metter, led by former Wildcat coach and player Lee Shaw.

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RCHS football prepares for Metter, Shaw in Game One

Wesley Branch
Thursday, August 27, 2026
Last time Rabun County High School’s football team stepped on the field, its performance was far from its standard. RCHS fell to Franklin (N.C.) 45-7 in its Aug. 14 scrimmage.

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Lady Cats volleyball collects its sixth win of the season

News Staff
Thursday, August 27, 2026
With a straight set home win over West Hall and Johnson on Aug. 25, the Rabun County Lady Cats volleyball team now are 6-8 on the season with a road match on Thursday, Aug. 27, at Stephens County up next.The girls’ next home matches are scheduled for Sept. 8 against visiting Fannin County and East...
Photo courtesy Von Watts. From left, Braxton Hicks, Hoff Windham, Gunner Stockton and Mason Sprinkle pose for a photo during an episode of the “Fifth Quarter Show” at Mama G’s Italian Restaurant. The show was first held at Mama G’s before being moved to Wildcat Grill years later.

Photo courtesy Von Watts. From left, Braxton Hicks, Hoff Windham, Gunner Stockton and Mason Sprinkle pose for a photo during an episode of the “Fifth Quarter Show” at Mama G’s Italian Restaurant. The show was first held at Mama G’s before being moved to Wildcat Grill years later.

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‘Fifth Quarter Show’ unites Wildcat Nation

Wesley Branch
Thursday, August 20, 2026
During his 20-plus years as a high school head football coach, Rabun County head coach Rance Gillespie had learned a lot in the coaching business. Potentially the most significant learned aspect though, is that a football program has to be important to its community, and be supported.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap head football coach Derek White directs his team on the sideline during Rabun Gap’s Aug. 14 scrimmage versus Westside (S.C.). RGNS will face Venice (Fla.) on Aug. 21 at home to open the season.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap head football coach Derek White directs his team on the sideline during Rabun Gap’s Aug. 14 scrimmage versus Westside (S.C.). RGNS will face Venice (Fla.) on Aug. 21 at home to open the season.

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Rabun Gap football taking ‘belief’ into opening game versus Venice

Wesley Branch
Thursday, August 20, 2026
Ahead of Rabun Gap-Nachoochee School’s opening home football game on Aug. 21 at 6 p.m. versus No. 77 nationally ranked Venice (Fla.), the No. 115 nationally ranked Eagles are leaning into what they believe.But the Eagles do not “believe” they can win, they know they can.
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County sophomore running back Amir Thompson goes up the middle in the second half of the scrimmage against Franklin for a touchdown. The score was set up by multiple runs by senior running back JK Fruster. The Wildcats open their regular season on Aug. 28 at home against Metter.

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County sophomore running back Amir Thompson goes up the middle in the second half of the scrimmage against Franklin for a touchdown. The score was set up by multiple runs by senior running back JK Fruster. The Wildcats open their regular season on Aug. 28 at home against Metter.

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‘We will be a better team the next time we play’

Enoch Autry - Publisher
Thursday, August 20, 2026
Scrimmage football is intended to give players an in-game opportunity to line up against opposing teams to play offense, defense and special teams to get ready for what real regular-season contests would be like.While teams do not open up the playbook in scrimmages, coaches, fans and the players...
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap offensive lineman Wilder Brasher lifts wide receiver Joshua Davis in the air in celebration after Davis’ 60-yard touchdown reception during Rabun Gap’s scrimmage versus Westside (S.C.) on Aug. 14. Davis’ long touchdown grab from quarterback Grayson Clary tied the scrimmage, 13-13.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap offensive lineman Wilder Brasher lifts wide receiver Joshua Davis in the air in celebration after Davis’ 60-yard touchdown reception during Rabun Gap’s scrimmage versus Westside (S.C.) on Aug. 14. Davis’ long touchdown grab from quarterback Grayson Clary tied the scrimmage, 13-13.

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Eagles battle back to tie Westside in scrimmage

Wesley Branch
Thursday, August 20, 2026
INMAN, S.C. – The No. 115 nationally-ranked Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School football team tied its preseason scrimmage on Aug. 14 versus Westside (S.C.), 13-13, storming back from a two-possession deficit.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. The Georgia football team runs onto the field ahead of its home-opening game versus Marshall last season. The Bulldogs, who open the new season versus Tennessee State on Sept. 5, earned the No. 3 ranking in the preseason Associated Press poll.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. The Georgia football team runs onto the field ahead of its home-opening game versus Marshall last season. The Bulldogs, who open the new season versus Tennessee State on Sept. 5, earned the No. 3 ranking in the preseason Associated Press poll.

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UGA, Stockton ranked No. 3 in preseason AP football poll

Wesley Branch
Thursday, August 20, 2026
The Associated Press college football preseason poll released on Monday, Aug. 17, showed Georgia was once again toward the top of the rankings. The Bulldogs are ranked No. 3 in the initial poll to begin the season. The AP Poll is voted on by over 60 journalists who cover college football.