Rabun County football

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 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.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County senior Reid Giles returns an interception against Dodge County on Nov. 14 in the Wildcats’ 56-21 playoff win over the Indians. Rabun County hosts Berrien on Nov. 21 for the second round of the Class A Division I playoffs.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County senior Reid Giles returns an interception against Dodge County on Nov. 14 in the Wildcats’ 56-21 playoff win over the Indians. Rabun County hosts Berrien on Nov. 21 for the second round of the Class A Division I playoffs.

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Cats to host Berrien in Sweet 16

Wesley Branch
Thursday, November 20, 2025
Frank Snyder Memorial Stadium erupted several times on Nov. 14 in Rabun County’s 56-21 playoff win over Dodge County.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Junior outside linebacker JK Fruster celebrates a defensive stop by Rabun County in the Wildcats’ first-round 56-21 win over visiting Dodge County on Nov. 14. In the game, Fruster blocked a punt and scooped it up and raced 47 yards to the end zone for a score.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Junior outside linebacker JK Fruster celebrates a defensive stop by Rabun County in the Wildcats’ first-round 56-21 win over visiting Dodge County on Nov. 14. In the game, Fruster blocked a punt and scooped it up and raced 47 yards to the end zone for a score.

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Rabun rolls past Dodge

Wesley Branch
Thursday, November 20, 2025
TIGER – In its first home playoff game since 2022, Rabun County controlled the game in all three phases, leading to an astounding 56-21 win over Dodge County on Friday night, in the first round of the state playoffs. With No. 31 Berrien County’s surprise 7-0 upset of No.
Tony Walsh/UGAAA. Former Rabun County and current Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton celebrates in the end zone after a rushing touchdown in the Dawgs’ 35-10 win over Texas. Stockton accounted for all five of UGA’s scores.

Tony Walsh/UGAAA. Former Rabun County and current Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton celebrates in the end zone after a rushing touchdown in the Dawgs’ 35-10 win over Texas. Stockton accounted for all five of UGA’s scores.

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Stockton, Georgia handle Texas once again

Wesley Branch
Thursday, November 20, 2025
In what was a showdown on Saturday night between the two preseason favorites in the SEC, it was Georgia once again controlling the fourth quarter en route to its third straight win over Texas.
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County will host Dodge County in the first round of the state playoffs on Friday, Nov. 14, at Frank Snyder Memorial Stadium. Here junior defensive lineman Ryan Yearwood (54) celebrates after the Wildcats make a stop against Athens Academy at home on Oct. 24.

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County will host Dodge County in the first round of the state playoffs on Friday, Nov. 14, at Frank Snyder Memorial Stadium. Here junior defensive lineman Ryan Yearwood (54) celebrates after the Wildcats make a stop against Athens Academy at home on Oct. 24.

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Wildcats preparing for playoff battle vs. visiting Dodge County Indians

Wesley Branch
Thursday, November 13, 2025
For the first time since 2022, the Rabun County football team will host a home Georgia High School Association playoff game. On Friday, Nov. 14, the Wildcats will host the Dodge County Indians from Eastman in South Georgia. The game will kickoff at 7:30 p.m. from Frank Snyder Memorial Stadium.