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The Week Eleven Game of the Week takes us to Tiger for the fourth time this year as a region title will be determined – Rabun vs Athens Academy.
RABUN COUNTY
Everyone knows at this point the huge, shocking loss for #3 Rabun County at an unranked, sub-.500 Oglethorpe. The result still has several scratching their heads. Now, the Wildcats get a real chance to show everyone what they’re made of. It’s not the losses that define you, but how you respond. Reid Giles wasn’t 100% last game, nor was Lake Evans. With a BYE week, it’s a safe bet that coach Gillespie is going to have Rabun in top form and fresh in this top-10 billing.
ATHENS ACADEMY
The Spartans were long considered the favorites to win the region after doing it last year. Athens Academy has spent all season in the top-10. This is the final game of the regular season for this team, as they have their final BYE week afterwards. At 9-1, none of their games at all have been close this year – let’s see what this team really has.
BY THE NUMBERS
RABUN COUNTY
- 7-1 (3-1 IN 8-A DI)
- Region Standings: 3rd
- 38.9 OFFENSE AVG (5th in 1A DI)
- 16.0 DEFENSE AVG
- #10 State Ranking
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ATHENS ACADEMY
- 8-1 (5-0 IN 8-A DI)
- Region Standings: 1st
- 43.6 OFFENSE AVG (4th in 1A-3A Private)
- 17.3 DEFENSE AVG (8th in 1A-3A Private)
- #5 State Ranking
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Be looking for highlights post-game later tonight as well as a story recapping the contest. BLITZ partners with Fox 5’s 11 PM “High 5 Sports” show throughout the season. We make sure to get Rabun County coverage on the big market show! You can also follow us on Twitter (@BlitzSportsGa) for live score updates (5G pending).
OUR PREDICTION
We typically make a case for both, with our official pick linked below. Let’s begin with the Wildcats. Doing a 180 from the last game is a great start. Rabun MUST get a healthy Reid Giles and Lake Evans. Without that, the pressure to all be on Ty Truelove isn’t going to be a recipe for success. If the run game is averaging over five yards per tote, that’ll open things up. Truelove needs someone to step up with some good routes and perhaps connecting on a deep pass or two. Rabun will win if it can keep Athens off balance with the run and pass. The Spartans will win if they stop the run – fairly simple to say, but another to do. OUR PICK: SEE HERE
DO WE BRING LUCK?
For Rabun County, the Wildcats have gone 54-17 overall in our 71 games covered for them. That includes winning each of the last three we’ve taken in.
DETAILS OF THE MATCHUP
TIME: 7:30 PM Kickoff
PLACE: Rabun Co HS / Frank Snyder Memorial Stadium / Tiger, GA
LAST MEETING: 2024: #8 Athens Academy 34, #10 Rabun County 28
ALL-TIME RECORD: The series is tied 3-3 all-time
RECORDS: #10 Rabun County Wildcats (7-1) vs Athens Academy Spartans (8-1)
HEAD COACHES: Rance Gillespie (177-92; 23 Seasons); Josh Alexander (104-24; 11 Seasons)
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING
This series is fairly young, as the original version was in 1994, a rare 3-0 win for Rabun County. Athens Academy won the 1995 and 1996 games, before the Wildcats won in 1997 with an 8-7 final, and again in 1998. Last year renewed the series as the Spartans took a high-scoring win.
TEAM LEADERS (2025 Stats)
*Stats accumulated by team-published data on Ga MaxPreps
RABUN COUNTY
PASSING
Ty Truelove – 1,233 yds, 13 TD, 1 INT, 59% completion
RUSHING
Reid Giles – 939 yds, 15 TD
Lake Evans – 568 yds, 6 TD
Ty Truelove – 340 yds, 4 TD
RECEIVING
Reid Giles – 530 yds, 5 TD, 38 rec
Reed Burrell – 219 yds, 3 TD, 13 rec
Hayden Cannon – 127 yds, 0 TD, 6 rec
Reed Lafevers – 104 yds, 2 TD, 10 rec
Lake Evans – 97 yds, 0 TD, 7 rec
DEFENSIVE LEADERS
Brock Brady – 44 TKL, 6 TFL, 1 Sack, 1 FF
Reid Giles – 42 TKL, 3 TFL, 1 INT, 1 BLK
Ethan Hopper – 38 TKL, 6 TFL, 1.5 Sacks, 1 INT, 1 FR, 1 FF
Reed Burrell – 36 TKL, 1 TFL
JK Fruster – 32 TKL, 7 TFL, 1 Sack
Ryan Yearwood – 30 TKL, 6 TFL, 2 Sacks, 1 INT, 2 FR
Dane Tyler – 16 TKL, 1.5 TFL, 2 Sacks, 1 INT
TJ Hilber – 13 TKL, 6 TFL, 3 Sacks
ATHENS ACADEMY
PASSING
Chap Chapman – 1,614 yds, 16 TD, 1 INT, 61% completion
RUSHING
Zay Prince – 1,236 yds, 15 TD
Keyon Standifer – 208 yds, 5 TD
Cash Cowart – 136 yds, 1 TD
Chap Chapman – 119 yds, 4 TD
RECEIVING
Keyon Standifer – 959 yds, 14 TD, 36 rec
Ben Bush – 196 yds, 1 TD, 11 rec
Grayson Stafford – 182 yds, 0 TD, 10 rec
Tucker Rhodes – 139 yds, 1 TD, 6 rec
DEFENSIVE LEADERS
Land Johnson – 51 TKL, 6 TFL, 2 Sacks
Baynes Collins – 34 TKL, 3 TFL, 1 Sack, 2 INT
Cash Cowart – 33 TKL, 2 TFL
Grayson Stafford – 26 TKL, 1 TFL, 1 INT
Owen Whitaker – 24 TKL, 3 TFL, 1 Sack
Matthew McRae – 23 TKL, 5 TFL
Keyon Standifer – 20 TKL, 1 TFL, 3 INT
Ben Bush – 18 TKL, 3 INT
