(VIDEO) Game of the Week: Finally home, Wildcats looking to continue rebound

TIGER — The last time Rabun County football played a home game the eyes of the entire state were focused on Tiger.

While this Friday's showdown may not carry anything like that kind of weight, Wildcats players and coaches say they are just as excited to perform in front of a home crowd for the first time since competing in the Class 2A state championship contest in December 2017.

Much has changed since that cold winter night -- the Wildcats graduated record-setting and All-State quarterback Bailey Fisher, as well as linebackers Gavin Jones and Dawson Henricks and lineman Tanner Jarrard -- but eighth-ranked Rabun wants to show its hometown that there is still plenty of ability between the sidelines as they take on Stephens County at Frank Snyder Stadium.

There have been some early growing pains in the transition, including a season-opening, 13-10 loss to Class 2A No. 3 Bremen in Statesboro, but coach Lee Shaw also likes how his team responded to that setback, including a 52-42 defeat of North Murray the next week in which the visiting Wildcats (1-1) led 38-7 midway through the third quarter.

"This has been a really good group of being competitive. We’ve had a tough schedule first two games, and we’ve responded the way I was hoping we would and got better every week. That was a tough match-up with Bremen right out of the gate down in Statesboro," Shaw said. 

Rabun knows it must be on its guard in order to show continued progress against a Stephens County team that has showed an ability to make plays on the young season.

Under first-year head coach Wesley Tankersley, the Indians (2-1) pulled off two hardfought wins to open the season before succumbing to Class A No. 4 Athens Academy 28-7 last week.

"They’ve got some guys in the right spots that can make plays," Shaw said of Stephens County. "They’ve got some momentum going on, and they’re Stephens County. They feel like they should win. We feel like we should win. It’s going to be a really good football game."

The Indians feature three backs that have rushed for over 100 yards apiece and a defense that is allowing just over 12 points per game while forcing six turnovers in the process.

Meanwhile, the Wildcats spread offense is continuing to develop under freshman starting quarterback Gunner Stockton, who has looked anything but a rookie in averaging 226 yards per game (185 passing) while completing 70 percent of his passes for 4 touchdowns against 1 interception. Aiding Stockton's transition is a power ground game led by Brison Beck (273 yards rushing, 4 TDs) and veteran offensive line.

"We’re able to run the ball this year, where we maybe struggled a little in the past. So that takes some pressure off of Gunner," Shaw said. "He can be a little bit more efficient and patient without having to put everything on his shoulders. So our offensive line is doing a really good job. That’s kind of the identity of our offense right now, kind of how our offensive line goes we go."

With players like center Shawn Lovell and tackle Jackson Webb leading the way, the Wildcats showed they were not about to settle after the early defeat. And players say a bye week and home game hanging tantalizingly in front has only driven practice.

"So far we’re growing a little bit from the Bremen game until now. I think that was a good wake-up call for us. And we’ve really stepped it up," Lovell said. "And for us, this off week we had last week, it’s — we beat the crap out of each other, but we’re getting better every day."

Now Rabun hopes to show that for the home fans, who have waited many months since that night in December.