Rabun Gap football

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap head football coach Derek White walks to the field ahead of his team's game versus Grayson in 2025.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap head football coach Derek White walks to the field ahead of his team's game versus Grayson in 2025.

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Return of the BAD men: RGNS bigger, stronger ahead of season

Wesley Branch
Thursday, August 13, 2026
As a program that does everything with a focus on getting to a state championship game each season, the players and coaches of Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School’s football program would likely be the first to say that 2025 was a disappointment.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County’s Cooper Kowalsky looks downfield for an open receiver during the Wildcats’ spring game versus White County on May 15. Kowalsky is entering his first season as RCHS’s starting QB.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County’s Cooper Kowalsky looks downfield for an open receiver during the Wildcats’ spring game versus White County on May 15. Kowalsky is entering his first season as RCHS’s starting QB.

New era of quarterback play on horizon in Rabun County

Wesley Branch
Thursday, August 13, 2026
The quarterback position is often regarded as the most important and most difficult position in all of sports. On the field, quarterbacks touch the football every play, having to make decisions in split seconds and perform at their best physically and mentally under intense pressure.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County High School’s football team runs onto the field before its second-round playoff game versus Berrien last season. The Wildcats enter 2026 following a 10-3 record and run to the state quarterfinals a season ago.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County High School’s football team runs onto the field before its second-round playoff game versus Berrien last season. The Wildcats enter 2026 following a 10-3 record and run to the state quarterfinals a season ago.

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RCHS, RGNS schedule football scrimmages

Wesley Branch
Thursday, August 13, 2026
Both Rabun County High School and Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School’s football teams will compete in preseason scrimmages on Friday, Aug. 14, as the new season nears. The Wildcats and Eagles will both be on the road on Friday in the mentioned scrimmages.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap junior defensive back Elias Willingham goes through drills during Rabun Gap’s college coaches social in January. Willingham is one of nine Division I commits in Rabun Gap’s 2027 class.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap junior defensive back Elias Willingham goes through drills during Rabun Gap’s college coaches social in January. Willingham is one of nine Division I commits in Rabun Gap’s 2027 class.

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Rabun Gap’s Willingham commits to East Tennessee State University

Wesley Branch
Thursday, July 30, 2026
Rabun Gap Class of 2027 defensive back Elias Willingham has committed to East Tennessee State University (ETSU).
Via @JaxonTotherow65 on X. Rabun Gap rising senior Jaxon Totherow announced his commitment to Austin Peay on July 18 via social media, choosing the Governors over several Division I programs like Georgia State, East Tennessee State, Troy and others. Totherow is expected to be the starting center for Rabun Gap this upcoming season.

Via @JaxonTotherow65 on X. Rabun Gap rising senior Jaxon Totherow announced his commitment to Austin Peay on July 18 via social media, choosing the Governors over several Division I programs like Georgia State, East Tennessee State, Troy and others. Totherow is expected to be the starting center for Rabun Gap this upcoming season.

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Rabun Gap’s Totherow commits to Austin Peay

Wesley Branch
Thursday, July 23, 2026
Rabun Gap Class of 2027 offensive lineman Jaxon Totherow announced on social media on July 18 his commitment to Austin Peay State University. Totherow is the Eagles’ eighth member of its rising senior class to announce his commitment, all eight of which are to Division I programs.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap players run onto the field ahead of kickoff before the Eagles’ game with Christian Brothers College on Oct. 3, 2025. Rabun Gap will face CBC once again this season, as well as four other nationally ranked teams. The Eagles are the preseason No. 115 team in the nation.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap players run onto the field ahead of kickoff before the Eagles’ game with Christian Brothers College on Oct. 3, 2025. Rabun Gap will face CBC once again this season, as well as four other nationally ranked teams. The Eagles are the preseason No. 115 team in the nation.

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RGNS football earns No. 115 preseason national ranking

Wesley Branch
Thursday, July 9, 2026
As the countdown to football season rolls on, High School Football America released its preseason top-300 rankings on June 27, featuring the top high school football programs in America. For the third consecutive season, Rabun Gap was featured amongst those top programs. The Eagles slotted in at No.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap linebackers Kaylan Brown (left) and Praise Chane (right) close in on a Christ School ball carrier in the Eagles’ 42-0 regular season win over the Greenies on Oct. 17, 2025. Brown announced his commitment to East Tennessee State last week and Chane announced his commitment to Navy.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap linebackers Kaylan Brown (left) and Praise Chane (right) close in on a Christ School ball carrier in the Eagles’ 42-0 regular season win over the Greenies on Oct. 17, 2025. Brown announced his commitment to East Tennessee State last week and Chane announced his commitment to Navy.

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Four Rabun Gap football seniors announce college commitments

Wesley Branch
Thursday, July 2, 2026
Four more Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School rising seniors announced their college football intentions last week as the peak of recruiting season continues. The Eagles’ football program now has seven rising seniors who have committed to Division I programs, with more collegiate decisions still expected.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. RGNS head girls basketball coach Dale Earnhardt directs his team during a timeout against Buford.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. RGNS head girls basketball coach Dale Earnhardt directs his team during a timeout against Buford.

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Rabun Gap AD Earnhardt to be inducted into Athletic HOF

Wesley Branch
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Long-tenured Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School athletic director Dale Earnhardt will be inducted into the school’s athletic Hall of Fame, Rabun Gap announced on social media on May 11.Earnhardt will be a 2026 inductee and will be honored on Oct. 24 during the school’s fall homecoming weekend.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap class of 2027 defensive lineman Marcellus Young Casario talks with Georgia defensive line coach Tray Scott during the Rabun Gap spring college coaches social on Rabun Gap’s campus May 7. Casario has scholarship offers from Georgia, Georgia Tech, Michigan State and others.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap class of 2027 defensive lineman Marcellus Young Casario talks with Georgia defensive line coach Tray Scott during the Rabun Gap spring college coaches social on Rabun Gap’s campus May 7. Casario has scholarship offers from Georgia, Georgia Tech, Michigan State and others.

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RGNS football hosts spring ‘College Coaches Social’

Wesley Branch
Thursday, May 14, 2026
RABUN GAP – Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School and head football coach Derek White hosted its spring college coaches social with over 70 high school prospects and a plethora of college football coaches in attendance on May 7.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap Class of 2028 linebacker Jay Schell warms up for Rabun Gap’s May 7 college coaches social. Schell has 36 Division I offers, with LSU most recently offering him a scholarship.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap Class of 2028 linebacker Jay Schell warms up for Rabun Gap’s May 7 college coaches social. Schell has 36 Division I offers, with LSU most recently offering him a scholarship.

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Rabun Gap’s Schell, Alexander talk recruitment, 4-star rating

Wesley Branch
Thursday, May 14, 2026
The majority of the Class of 2026 has signed letters of intent in the college football recruiting world.The Class of 2027 is nearing the summer period where those student-athletes will make decisions on their next chapter.And the 2028 class is heating up.