Sports

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. The Rabun Gap boys soccer team captured its fourth consecutive state championship in 2024.

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. The Rabun Gap boys soccer team captured its fourth consecutive state championship in 2024.

RGNS boys soccer team with more depth seeks fifth straight state title

Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School boys soccer has become the gold standard in high school soccer over the last few years. Boasting an almost unheard of four consecutive state championships, the Eagles are gearing up for 2025 with their sights set on a fifth in a row.
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. The Rabun County cheerleaders continued their tradition of creating special banners for each Wildcat football game so the team can run through them onto the football field. Here the players and first-year head coach Rance Gillespie (left center) make their way toward the home sideline during pregame of the Aug. 8 scrimmage against visiting Franklin, N.C.

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. The Rabun County cheerleaders continued their tradition of creating special banners for each Wildcat football game so the team can run through them onto the football field. Here the players and first-year head coach Rance Gillespie (left center) make their way toward the home sideline during pregame of the Aug. 8 scrimmage against visiting Franklin, N.C.

RCHS alum back home to coach

Rabun County High School football jumpstarted its season on Friday, Aug. 8, with a scrimmage against one of its former rivals, Franklin (N.C.) High School, with RCHS alumnus Rance Gillespie in his first season as head coach of the Wildcats.

Bulldogs open at No. 5 in preseason poll

With college football vastly approaching, the preseason AP Top 25 poll was finally released on Monday, Aug. 11. Coming in at No. 5 on that poll was Georgia. Ranked ahead of the Bulldogs is No. 1 Texas – its first No. 1 preseason ranking in program history – No.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. With her husband Steve paddling the boat, Cissy Jackson comes to the boat dock after swimming Lake Rabun in honor of her 60th birthday.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. With her husband Steve paddling the boat, Cissy Jackson comes to the boat dock after swimming Lake Rabun in honor of her 60th birthday.

In honor of turning 60, Jackson swims length of Lake Rabun

LAKEMONT – Rabun County native Cissy Jackson enjoys challenging herself. So much so, that she has set out intense challenges for each of her last two milestone birthdays – 50 and 60. Jackson, who turned 60 on July 1, decided in August 2024 she wanted to swim the length of Lake Rabun.
Shown, from left, are senior players Lillie Free of Clarkesville, Vjera Radovic of Montenegro and Kate Blackburn of Demorest. (Photo courtesy of Tallulah Falls School)

Shown, from left, are senior players Lillie Free of Clarkesville, Vjera Radovic of Montenegro and Kate Blackburn of Demorest. (Photo courtesy of Tallulah Falls School)

Tallulah Falls volleyball celebrates seniors

Tallulah Falls’ varsity volleyball team defeated Providence Christian 3-1 on senior night, Oct. 8. Senior Lillie Free of Clarkesville played well for the Indians on both sides of the ball, with 15 digs, five aces and five kills, coach Matt Heyl said.
Rabun County’s Ali Ramey, top left, spikes the ball against Dade County during the quarterfinal round of the GHSA Class A/AA-Public state playoffs at Ken Byrd Court in Tiger last Saturday afternoon. (Glendon Poe/The Clayton Tribune)

Rabun County’s Ali Ramey, top left, spikes the ball against Dade County during the quarterfinal round of the GHSA Class A/AA-Public state playoffs at Ken Byrd Court in Tiger last Saturday afternoon. (Glendon Poe/The Clayton Tribune)

Rabun advances to program’s first semifinal

TIGER — Showing strong signs of a championship program, the Rabun County volleyball team is one win away from playing for its first state championship.

Tallulah Falls launches esports program

Competitive gaming in the form of electronic sports is coming to Tallulah Falls School as an official Georgia High School Association activity. TFS is starting with 25 student-players, meeting after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays, playing League of Legends and Rocket League.

Eagles top Lions in OT, earn fifth seed

RABUN GAP — Matt Linn ran for a touchdown with less than a minute left in overtime to lift the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee Eagles past the Covenant Day Lions 22-14 in Rabun Gap last Saturday afternoon. The Eagles secured a No. 5 seed in the NCISAA postseason in the process and travel to Ravenscroft (N.C.
Rabun County wide receiver Sutton Jones (20) is congratulated by quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) and other teammates after making a touchdown catch during the first half against Social Circle at Frank Snyder Memorial Stadium in Tiger last Friday night. (Glendon Poe/The Clayton Tribune)

Rabun County wide receiver Sutton Jones (20) is congratulated by quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) and other teammates after making a touchdown catch during the first half against Social Circle at Frank Snyder Memorial Stadium in Tiger last Friday night. (Glendon Poe/The Clayton Tribune)

Stockton throws 6 TDs, Rabun clips Social Circle

TIGER — Social Circle couldn’t have asked for a better start against the undefeated Rabun County Wildcats. Logan Cross hit Amarion Russell with a screen pass on the game’s first play from scrimmage and Russell raced down the left sideline for a 73-yard touchdown.