Sports

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap's defense and sideline celebrate a forced turnover versus Grayson on Aug. 22

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap's defense and sideline celebrate a forced turnover versus Grayson on Aug. 22

Another tough test Friday for RGNS on road at Baylor

Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School football’s nationally ranked schedule continues this week on Friday, Aug. 29, as the No. 32 Eagles travel to Chattanooga, Tenn., to face No. 67 Baylor. Rabun Gap is looking to bounce back after its hard-fought defeat at the hands of nationally ranked No.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap senior and Indiana commit Walker Bryson celebrates in the end zone after a touchdown against Grayson in RGNS’s 24-19 loss to begin the season in a game with national football powerhouses.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap senior and Indiana commit Walker Bryson celebrates in the end zone after a touchdown against Grayson in RGNS’s 24-19 loss to begin the season in a game with national football powerhouses.

Eagles put fear into nationally ranked Grayson

LOGANVILLE – In a night where two nationally ranked teams battled each other and inclement weather, Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School, No. 32 in the nation, narrowly dropped its season opener on the road Friday night 24-19 to Grayson, ranked No. 4 in the country.
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County junior JK Fruster (6) and sophomore Colter Cannon celebrate the Wildcats recovering a Fannin County fumble deep in Rebel territory in RCHS’s 35-0 shutout at Frank Snyder Memorial Stadium.

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County junior JK Fruster (6) and sophomore Colter Cannon celebrate the Wildcats recovering a Fannin County fumble deep in Rebel territory in RCHS’s 35-0 shutout at Frank Snyder Memorial Stadium.

RCHS whips Fannin’s fannies

Night and day. That is the level of difference between last year’s meeting of Rabun County and Fannin County and this year’s tilt. Within the confines of Frank Snyder Memorial Stadium, the No.
File Photo/The Clayton Tribune. Last year the Rabun Gap Eagles hoisted their first football state championship. The road to potentially repeat will be involve navigating through one of the toughest high school schedules in America. RGNS begins its season at national power Grayson on Aug. 22.

File Photo/The Clayton Tribune. Last year the Rabun Gap Eagles hoisted their first football state championship. The road to potentially repeat will be involve navigating through one of the toughest high school schedules in America. RGNS begins its season at national power Grayson on Aug. 22.

Buckle your chin straps: Rabun Gap faces Grayson to open season

Rabun Gap-Nachoochee School football is opening the season with a major test. The Eagles, who entered the season ranked No. 32 in the country, will travel to Loganville, Ga., on Friday, Aug. 22, to face the No. 4 nationally ranked Rams. Grayson, ranked No.
Submitted Photo.  An aerial view shows the newly installed Rabun Gap turf field that was bought through donations to the athletic program. BELOW RIGHT: The RGNS weight room has been expanded with new equipment.

Submitted Photo. An aerial view shows the newly installed Rabun Gap turf field that was bought through donations to the athletic program. BELOW RIGHT: The RGNS weight room has been expanded with new equipment.

RGNS makes major investment into athletic facilities

Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School is continuing to take the steps to enhance the experience for its student-athletes in what many would consider the “golden age” of Eagles athletics.
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County senior running back Reid Giles sprints down the sideline in front of a group of RCHS students on Aug. 15 for a 65-yard touchdown against visiting White County in the Wildcats’ 42-6 win on “Hall of Fame Night.” Giles, a preseason all-state selection, scored three TDs.

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County senior running back Reid Giles sprints down the sideline in front of a group of RCHS students on Aug. 15 for a 65-yard touchdown against visiting White County in the Wildcats’ 42-6 win on “Hall of Fame Night.” Giles, a preseason all-state selection, scored three TDs.

Behind Giles’ 3 TDs, RCHS alum Rance Gillespie gets first win as Cats’ head coach

TIGER – Rabun County football and first-year head coach Rance Gillespie picked up the first win of the regular season on Friday night, dominating White County 42-6. The Aug. 15 victory also marked the first win as the Wildcats’ head coach for Gillespie, who played at RCHS in the 1980s.
Photo courtesy of Elisha Boggs. Ryan Anderson, Oier Linera Mallea and Gavin Simmons support each other throughout the Tallulah Falls School year.

Photo courtesy of Elisha Boggs. Ryan Anderson, Oier Linera Mallea and Gavin Simmons support each other throughout the Tallulah Falls School year.

Better Together: Ryan Anderson, Oier Linera Mallea & Gavin Simmons

Ecclesiastes 4:12 states, though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Meet Ryan Anderson, Oier Linera Mallea, and Gavin Simmons.
Photo courtesy of Ashton Bass. Tallulah Falls’ Ashton Roache hails from Nassau, Bahamas, while Chase Pollock is from Toccoa, Ga.

Photo courtesy of Ashton Bass. Tallulah Falls’ Ashton Roache hails from Nassau, Bahamas, while Chase Pollock is from Toccoa, Ga.

Better Together: Chase Pollock & Ashton Roache

“You can observe a lot just by watching,” says the great Yogi Berra. While quite obvious, it’s true. Over the past two seasons, the TFS baseball team has crushed the record books, securing a state runner-up finish in 2024 and a Sweet 16 (Round of 12) appearance in 2025.
Submitted Photo. Rabun County’s Sally Woerner (seated, center) is surrounded by family and friends as she signs a national letter of intent to play at Western Carolina University.

Submitted Photo. Rabun County’s Sally Woerner (seated, center) is surrounded by family and friends as she signs a national letter of intent to play at Western Carolina University.

Hall of Famers inducted before Wildcats’ kickoff

Rabun Athletic Hall of Fame Sally Woerner certainly left an indelible mark on the athletic record books during her time at Rabun County High School.