In what was a wild game in Commerce, the Tigers (9-1; 3-0 in 8-A DI) snagged an improbable win in overtime to snap Rabun County’s 9-year streak as Region Champions. Commerce won 23–17 in the marquee top-five matchup, but it took an extra period of play.

In an oddity of a game, #3 Commerce needed a win over #4 Rabun (7-3; 1-2) to secure the outright Region Championship. The Wildcats would need to win by 13 points or better. Anything less, and the Tigers still win the title regardless of a loss.

In the opening quarter, the Rabun defense buckled down and held Commerce to nothing while notching an early field goal of 24 yards by Marcus Remillard. The Tigers would respond to start the second with a 2-yd plunge by Jaiden Daniels for the 7-3 lead.

Immediately, it kick-started a back-and-forth battle. The Wildcats less than a minute later got a 42-yd TD pass from Ty Truelove to Jake Payne. With just under 3 minutes remaining in the half, Ivy Tolbert tied the game at 10 apiece with a 26-yd FG for Commerce. Rabun again had an answer, this time a 40-yd TD from Truelove to Reid Giles, which pushed the Cats up 17-10. Daniels found pay dirt on a 37-yd TD to tie the game at 17-17 going into the break.

The Wildcats drained the clock on their opening drive of the third, but it ended with no points on a missed field goal. Their following drive came in the fourth and nearly ended with a TD pass, but a juggled ball by Cooper Welch was caught although he had a foot out. The Tigers used the last few minutes to get within distance of a 31-yd try for Tolbert to try and win on a walkoff field goal with 6 seconds to go. The kick was blocked, and Tolbert’s leg was broken on the play. After several minutes of medical staff working on her, she was carted off and taken off by ambulance.

Commerce used it as motivation to win for their fallen teammate. In the first overtime, Daniels scored from 3 yards out for his third rushing TD of the night. Without Tolbert, the Tigers elected to go for the 2-point try. Daniels dove but was just short of the goal line, giving Rabun a golden opportunity to score and kick the extra point for the win. Truelove hit Giles in the flats, and the ball was punched out by Jacari Huff. Daniels was there to recover the loose ball, sealing the win and the region title all in one motion.

Commerce wins its first region title since 2020, while Rabun County will be a 3-seed in the playoffs for the first time in over a decade.