Rabun County football

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Former Rabun County and current UGA quarterback Gunner Stockton fights off defenders for a rushing touchdown in Georgia’s 45-7 season-opening win over Marshall on Aug. 30, 2025. Stockton, who finished seventh in Heisman voting this season, will return to Georgia for his redshirt senior season in 2026.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Former Rabun County and current UGA quarterback Gunner Stockton fights off defenders for a rushing touchdown in Georgia’s 45-7 season-opening win over Marshall on Aug. 30, 2025. Stockton, who finished seventh in Heisman voting this season, will return to Georgia for his redshirt senior season in 2026.

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Stockton set to return to UGA for his final season

Wesley Branch
Thursday, January 22, 2026
With both the deadline for NFL Draft decisions – Jan. 14 – and transfer portal decisions – Jan. 16 – having passed, former Rabun County standout Gunner Stockton will be officially returning to the University of Georgia for his final season of college football.
File/Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Willie Goodwyn goes in for a touchdown on Oct. 20, 2023, for Rabun County on the road against Athens Christian in the Wildcats’ win. Goodwyn has announced he is transferring from Cincinnati to Tulsa.

File/Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Willie Goodwyn goes in for a touchdown on Oct. 20, 2023, for Rabun County on the road against Athens Christian in the Wildcats’ win. Goodwyn has announced he is transferring from Cincinnati to Tulsa.

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Former RCHS Wildcat Goodwyn announces his transfer to Tulsa

Wesley Branch
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Former Rabun County standout and Cincinnati Bearcat Willie Goodwyn announced his decision to enter the NCAA transfer portal on Dec. 16. Just over a month later, on Jan.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County junior linebacker JK Fruster celebrates with assistant coach Ty Maxwell after the Rabun County defense forces a turnover in the Wildcats’ 49-42 road win over Dalton on Sept. 5, 2025.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County junior linebacker JK Fruster celebrates with assistant coach Ty Maxwell after the Rabun County defense forces a turnover in the Wildcats’ 49-42 road win over Dalton on Sept. 5, 2025.

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Rabun releases 2026 Wildcat football schedule

Wesley Branch
Thursday, January 15, 2026
The Rabun County football team officially released its schedule for the 2026 season on Thursday, Jan. 8, in a post on the team’s official X (formerly known as Twitter) account as RCHS will face both former Coach Shaws with their current teams.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County senior Reid Giles looks to the sideline in Rabun County’s 49-42 win over Dalton on Sept. 5. Giles was named Georgia High School Football Daily Player of the Week for his performance versus Dalton and was named All-State this season.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County senior Reid Giles looks to the sideline in Rabun County’s 49-42 win over Dalton on Sept. 5. Giles was named Georgia High School Football Daily Player of the Week for his performance versus Dalton and was named All-State this season.

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Rabun County’s Giles earns All-State football honors

Wesley Branch
Thursday, January 8, 2026
Although the high school football season ended in December, the awards continue to pile up for Rabun County senior Reid Giles. Last week, Giles earned two more impressive honors, as he was named All-State by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Recruit Georgia.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Gunner Stockton celebrates in the end zone after a rushing touchdown in Georgia’s 43-35 win over Ole Miss on Oct. 18. Stockton finished top-10 in Heisman voting as the starting quarterback for the Bulldogs.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Gunner Stockton celebrates in the end zone after a rushing touchdown in Georgia’s 43-35 win over Ole Miss on Oct. 18. Stockton finished top-10 in Heisman voting as the starting quarterback for the Bulldogs.

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Stockton shines in first season as UGA starter

Wesley Branch
Thursday, January 8, 2026
Although Georgia’s season came to an end on Jan. 1 in the Sugar Bowl, former Rabun County and current UGA quarterback Gunner Stockton provided plenty of exciting moments that made Bulldog fans leap from their seats and Rabun Countians proud of their hometown QB.
Tony Walsh/UGAAA. Current UGA and former Rabun County quarterback Gunner Stockton in Georgia’s practice session before the Sugar Bowl versus Ole Miss on Jan. 1. Stockton had 223 total yards and three touchdowns in Georgia’s 39-34 Sugar Bowl loss.

Tony Walsh/UGAAA. Current UGA and former Rabun County quarterback Gunner Stockton in Georgia’s practice session before the Sugar Bowl versus Ole Miss on Jan. 1. Stockton had 223 total yards and three touchdowns in Georgia’s 39-34 Sugar Bowl loss.

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Georgia, Stockton’s season comes to an end in Sugar Bowl

Wesley Branch
Thursday, January 8, 2026
No. 3 ranked Georgia had its season come to an end on Jan. 1, once again in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, this time at the hands of Ole Miss, 39-34.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) will lead the Bulldogs against Ole Miss in the College Football Playoffs on Jan. 1 in New Orleans in the Sugar Bowl. Stockton got his first collegiate start in last year’s Sugar Bowl. Stockton has been the starter throughout this season, finishing seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) will lead the Bulldogs against Ole Miss in the College Football Playoffs on Jan. 1 in New Orleans in the Sugar Bowl. Stockton got his first collegiate start in last year’s Sugar Bowl. Stockton has been the starter throughout this season, finishing seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting.

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New Year’s is gameday for UGA, Stockton in Sugar Bowl

Enoch Autry - Publisher
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
The No. 3 seed Georgia Bulldogs will face Southeastern Conference opponent the No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels on New Year’s Day in the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff. With the kickoff at 8 p.m. from New Orleans in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, the winner will move on to face either No.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Former Rabun County and current UGA quarterback Gunner Stockton prepares to take a snap in Georgia’s 43-35 win over Ole Miss on Oct. 18. Stockton threw for 289 yards and four touchdowns, while running for 59 yards and a score in the win. Ole Miss now will face UGA in the playoffs on New Year’s Day.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Former Rabun County and current UGA quarterback Gunner Stockton prepares to take a snap in Georgia’s 43-35 win over Ole Miss on Oct. 18. Stockton threw for 289 yards and four touchdowns, while running for 59 yards and a score in the win. Ole Miss now will face UGA in the playoffs on New Year’s Day.

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Georgia, Stockton set for Ole Miss rematch in CFP

Wesley Branch
Wednesday, December 24, 2025
Jan. 1, 2026, will mark the 50th time in history that Georgia and Ole Miss have squared off on the gridiron. That contest will be the most consequential of the 50, as a College Football Playoff semifinal slot is on the line. The No. 3 seed Bulldogs and No. 6 Rebels will kick off at 8 p.m.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Former Rabun County and current UGA quarterback Gunner Stockton strolls into the end zone for a rushing touchdown in Georgia’s 43-35 win over Ole Miss on Oct. 18. Last week, it was announced Stockton finished seventh in the 2025 Heisman Trophy voting.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Former Rabun County and current UGA quarterback Gunner Stockton strolls into the end zone for a rushing touchdown in Georgia’s 43-35 win over Ole Miss on Oct. 18. Last week, it was announced Stockton finished seventh in the 2025 Heisman Trophy voting.

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Stockton finishes seventh in Heisman voting

Wesley Branch
Thursday, December 18, 2025
Former Rabun County and current University of Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton has had an excellent first season as the full-time starting QB for the Bulldogs – most recently finishing seventh in the coveted Heisman Trophy balloting. Georgia sits at 12-1 and earned the No.
Keith Barlow/CNI News Service. Holding his MVP trophy with his teammates and head coach Kirby Smart on the stage with him, Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton answers questions from Laura Rutledge after the Bulldogs’ 28-7 win.

Keith Barlow/CNI News Service. Holding his MVP trophy with his teammates and head coach Kirby Smart on the stage with him, Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton answers questions from Laura Rutledge after the Bulldogs’ 28-7 win.

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Stockton MVP in SEC Championship domination of ‘Bama

Wesley Branch
Thursday, December 11, 2025
After an all-around supremacy over No. 10 Alabama on Saturday in the SEC Championship, former Rabun County and current starting quarterback for No. 3-ranked Georgia, Gunner Stockton, is now a two-time SEC champion.