Sports

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County Lady Cats celebrate when teammate senior Chloe Shirley scores in the fourth quarter of the girls’ win over East Hall on Dec. 5 at home.

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County Lady Cats celebrate when teammate senior Chloe Shirley scores in the fourth quarter of the girls’ win over East Hall on Dec. 5 at home.

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Wildcat basketball claim home victories

Enoch Autry - Publisher
Thursday, December 11, 2025
Rabun County truly flexed its muscle on the hardwood on Dec. 5 as both programs collected wins as “Rec Night” got started with the No. 5 ranked Lady Cats defeating Class AAA East Hall 71-43 at home. After the first quarter, the Lady Cats (5-1) of Class A Division I held a 24-6 lead over East Hall.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School athletic director and girls basketball head coach Dale Earnhardt (left) and Alyssa Ashe pose for a photo during Rabun Gap’s signing day festivities on Dec. 3. Ashe will be continuing her athletic and academic careers at Covenant College

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School athletic director and girls basketball head coach Dale Earnhardt (left) and Alyssa Ashe pose for a photo during Rabun Gap’s signing day festivities on Dec. 3. Ashe will be continuing her athletic and academic careers at Covenant College

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14 Rabun Gap athletes sign to continue athletic careers

Wesley Branch
Thursday, December 11, 2025
RABUN GAP – Fourteen student-athletes at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School officially signed their letters of intent to continue their athletic and academic careers at the collegiate level on Wednesday, Dec. 3.

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Rabun Gap set for National Signing Day festivities Wednesday

Wesley Branch
Thursday, December 4, 2025
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School was scheduled to host national signing day festivities on Wednesday, Dec. 3, on campus as part of the early national signing period for NCAA collegiate athletes. After press time, RGNS was set to have photographs for the athletes at 1:30 p.m.
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County senior Reid Giles sheds a tear during a hug with assistant coach Clay Worley on the field after the Wildcats lose to Pepperell in the Elite Eight in Lindale the day after Thanksgiving.

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County senior Reid Giles sheds a tear during a hug with assistant coach Clay Worley on the field after the Wildcats lose to Pepperell in the Elite Eight in Lindale the day after Thanksgiving.

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Wildcats’ playoff run ends in quarterfinals

Wesley Branch
Thursday, December 4, 2025
LINDALE – Rabun County’s football season came to an end in the state quarterfinals on Friday, Nov. 28, with a 34-0 loss on the road against Pepperell as the Wildcats concluded the 2025 campaign with a 10-3 overall record in the program’s 11th quarterfinal appearance all-time.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County junior guard Adelyn Thompson dribbles down the court in the Lady Cats’ 53-45 win over North Hall on Nov. 25. Thompson scored 10 points and added two assists in the victory over the Trojans.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County junior guard Adelyn Thompson dribbles down the court in the Lady Cats’ 53-45 win over North Hall on Nov. 25. Thompson scored 10 points and added two assists in the victory over the Trojans.

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RCHS hoops pick up wins over North Hall

Wesley Branch
Thursday, December 4, 2025
TIGER – Both Rabun County boys and girls basketball teams were victorious on Nov. 25, picking up wins over Class AAA North Hall.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County senior quarterback Ty Truelove looks downfield on a run versus Pepperell in the state quarterfinals on Nov. 28. Truelove was named first-team All-Region for the third consecutive season this season. Truelove was named the first team All-Region quarterback.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County senior quarterback Ty Truelove looks downfield on a run versus Pepperell in the state quarterfinals on Nov. 28. Truelove was named first-team All-Region for the third consecutive season this season. Truelove was named the first team All-Region quarterback.

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RCHS football proud of quarterfinal finish, senior class

Wesley Branch
Thursday, December 4, 2025
Rabun County’s football season and playoff run came to an end on Friday, Nov. 28, as a result of a road loss to Pepperell in the state quarterfinals.
Tony Walsh/UGAAA. Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch runs to the end zone for a receiving touchdown in Georgia’s 16-9 win over Georgia Tech on Nov. 28. In the background is former Rabun County and current Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton. Stockton and Branch connected for the only TD scored in the game.

Tony Walsh/UGAAA. Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch runs to the end zone for a receiving touchdown in Georgia’s 16-9 win over Georgia Tech on Nov. 28. In the background is former Rabun County and current Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton. Stockton and Branch connected for the only TD scored in the game.

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Stockton, Georgia win in-state battle over Georgia Tech

Wesley Branch
Thursday, December 4, 2025
While it was far from pretty, the No. 3-ranked Bulldogs defeated the No. 24 Yellow Jackets 16-9 on Friday, Nov. 28, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The win for Georgia – because of Texas A&M’s loss to Texas the same day – sets up Georgia for a rematch with No. 10 Alabama in the SEC Championship on Dec.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County senior Reid Giles navigates through Pepperell’s defense in the Wildcats’ 34-0 state quarterfinal loss to the Dragons on Nov. 28. Giles, the Class A Division I Region 8 “Athlete of the Year,” finished the game with 121 all-purpose yards.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County senior Reid Giles navigates through Pepperell’s defense in the Wildcats’ 34-0 state quarterfinal loss to the Dragons on Nov. 28. Giles, the Class A Division I Region 8 “Athlete of the Year,” finished the game with 121 all-purpose yards.

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Rabun football players earn All-Region honors

Wesley Branch
Thursday, December 4, 2025
With the football regular season having come to an end, regional honors have begun rolling in for Rabun County, which finished its regular season with an 8-2 record overall and 4-2 record in region play.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County running backs coach Clay Worley hugs Lake Evans after the senior dashes down the visitors’ sideline for a 46-yard touchdown on Nov. 21. The Wildcats head to Pepperell for the Elite Eight Friday.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County running backs coach Clay Worley hugs Lake Evans after the senior dashes down the visitors’ sideline for a 46-yard touchdown on Nov. 21. The Wildcats head to Pepperell for the Elite Eight Friday.

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NW Georgia-bound for next round of state playoffs

Wesley Branch
Wednesday, November 26, 2025
For the 10th time in 11 years, Rabun County has made the GHSA football quarterfinals. The Wildcats, who defeated the visiting Rebels from Berrien County on Nov. 21, will travel across the state to Northwest Georgia’s Lindale to face the Pepperell Dragons on Friday, Nov. 28, at 7:30 p.m.
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Coaches, support staff and Wildcat players applaud Rabun County head coach Rance Gillespie’s approval that RCHS is one of eight teams remaining in the Class A Division I playoffs. Gillespie said the team has embraced being “EL1TE” and now the Wildcats have reached the Elite Eight and will play after Thanksgiving.

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Coaches, support staff and Wildcat players applaud Rabun County head coach Rance Gillespie’s approval that RCHS is one of eight teams remaining in the Class A Division I playoffs. Gillespie said the team has embraced being “EL1TE” and now the Wildcats have reached the Elite Eight and will play after Thanksgiving.

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Cats bury Berrien to make ‘El1te’ Eight

Wesley Branch
Wednesday, November 26, 2025
TIGER – A strong performance by the offense, defense and special teams fueled a rebellion against the visiting Rebels as Rabun County advanced to the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2023 on Friday night, shutting out Berrien County 35-0.