Year one without Gunner Stockton and Jaybo Shaw went as usual for Rabun County – a Region Championship (9 in a row), 11-plus wins (9 straight), and a Quarterfinals run (8th straight). Keegan Stover was a plug-and-play option at QB, and proved to be a solid pocket passer, with the likes of Jaden Gibson putting up record numbers at receiver. The Virginia freshman cemented his place in state history as the best receiver of all time. Now that he’s gone, along with Stover and 3-year starting RB Lang Windham and key cogs such as Cory Keller, Cesar Cruz, Noah Legault, and Nic Baloga, it’s once again an overhaul of sorts on the roster.

The cupboard is far from bare. Ty Truelove showed in a playoff win that he is the legit dual threat and DI prospect we knew he was. It’s his time under center as a sophomore. Willie Goodwyn is a 3-star Cincinnati commit and will be huge at WR/DB, and Jarret Giles, Paul Picciotti, Hayden Ross, and Jack Hood will be critical to the success of this team. A lot of streaks are on the line – a chance at 10 straight region titles (only done 7 times in the history of Georgia football), 9 straight Quarterfinals and 9 straight 11-win seasons, 12 straight playoff runs, and a streak of 50 region wins in a row dating to 2013. That’s a lot of pressure, though the Wildcats put more on themselves than anyone else can.

Adding to the excitement of 2023 is the new turf field for Rabun County, which features black end zones with red lettering. The bold look of the field matches the program’s intensity.

Head Coach: Michael Davis, 2nd season
2022 Record: 12-1; State Quarterfinals; Region Champions; #1 State Ranking

“As always, we want to win the Region Championship, and State Championship,” states coach Michael Davis. “We have seven games before we start region play so we are trying to go 1-0 every week.”

2023 SCHEDULE – RABUN COUNTY

AUG 18 vs HARALSON COUNTY

AUG 25 @ STEPHENS COUNTY

SEP 1 @ ADAIRSVILLE

SEP 8 BYE

SEP 15 vs HEARD COUNTY

SEP 22 @ WHITEFIELD ACADEMY

SEP 29 vs FELLOWSHIP CHRISTIAN

OCT 6 vs ST. FRANCIS

OCT 13 vs ELBERT COUNTY^

OCT 20 @ ATHENS CHRISTIAN^

OCT 27 @ COMMERCE^

NOV 3 BYE

^REGION 8-A DIVISION I GAME

Personnel & Schemes

Key Departures: Jaden Gibson, Keegan Stover, Lang Windham, Cory Keller, Cesar Cruz, Noah Legault, Nic Baloga, Ethan Owens, Emiliano Ortiz

What a collection of skill players gone – Gibson is the best of all-time. Stover was a slinger, and Windham was a speedy reliable back. Keller and Cruz were the common threads of DNA of gritty, hard work that has defined Rabun County football. Legault and Baloga are hard to replace especially defensively.

Returning Starters: 5 on offense; 5 on defense

Key Returning Players: Willie Goodwyn, Hayden Ross, Ty Truelove, Jack Hood, Paul Picciotti, Jarret Giles, Alex Yearwood

Ty Truelove is ready to take the reins at QB – he was working the day after Rabun’s season ended last fall. Goodwyn will be his go-to option along with Picciotti, and Ross (major long snapper recruit) and Giles will be key factors, as will All-State linemen Hood and Yearwood.

Up & Coming Players: Ty Truelove (QB), Reed Giles (RB/F/S), Jake Payne (WR/DB), Cooper Welch (WR/DB; Played as a 9th grader), Riley Crane (OL/DL), Michael Johnson (OL/DL), Celton Littrell (LB/TE), Ethan Hopper (DL/OL)

Offense: Up-Tempo, No-Huddle

With Truelove in at QB as a dual threat, Rabun County can go back to more of their up-tempo, no-huddle look we saw with Stockton and Bailey Fisher before him. Though RB will feature a new carrier, Davis suggests Rabun has several, with Reed Giles and Noah English as the frontrunners. Goodwyn, Jarret Giles, Picciotti, Jake Payne, Riley Stewart, and Cooper Welch will all get in on the receiving game.

Defense: 3-4

From a 3-3 Stack last year to now a 3-4, Rabun features Picciotti, Goodwyn, Jarret Giles, Ross, and Ethan Hopper on that side of the ball. This unit allowed just 15 points per game last year, and while the LB room might be a little less experienced coming in, they will be just fine. Davis points to his secondary as a strength on this team.

Trenches: Games are won here. Davis says along with the secondary, the line (especially OL) is a big strength on this team.

“We have tremendous depth at OL and DL,” says Davis. “OL should be our strength. Jack Hood and Alex Yearwood are both All-State performers returning.”

Strengths & Areas of Focus

Strengths: Secondary & Offensive Line

Focusing On: “Focus has been on just trying to develop our players physically and mentally,” adds Davis. “We have a lot of youth so we have approached this summer differently in our preparation for the upcoming season.”

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