TIGER — Once upon a time the thought alone was laughable.
A state football power from the mountains? That was for metro Atlanta teams, south Georgia teams, big city and private schools.
But no longer.
As Rabun County proved in emphatic fashion last week, mountain schools can play a bit too. In fact, anyone who has been paying attention over the past six years might have guessed that it was only a matter of time before the Wildcats announced their arrival as more than a regional power. And thanks to a 56-14 Class AA state quarterfinal beatdown of Screven County -- deep in south Georgia -- the rest of the state now knows it better look "north of the Gorge" when counting its top football programs.
The victory proved historic for Rabun, which had already won four straight region crowns and reached its third straight state quarterfinal in its sixth season under coach Lee Shaw, smashing through a glass ceiling previously thought to be the best the state's northernmost programs could reach. Shaw imported the blueprints he used to major success at Flowery Branch, which won everything save a state title in his time at the school (2002-2011), breaking a 13-year playoff drought in his first campaign in charge. Like a hike to the top of Rabun's Black Rock Mountain, it has only ascended from there, with players like Charlie Woerner and now Bailey Fisher spearheading a focused and talented group of players coached by a staff that includes a number of Rabun alumni, including Shaw himself. Rabun is 58-14 so far under Shaw -- the program was 306-313 up to that point with one region title and one previous state quarterfinal appearance (both in 1998 under Sonny Smart, father of current Georgia football coach Kirby Smart).
And the Wildcats (13-0) will even get to host their first ever state semifinal, as Brooks County travels to Tiger on Friday.
If Rabun can continue the focus and stellar play that has marked this entire campaign it will be in for even more history, with a berth in "The Benz" on the line (Atlanta's Merecdes Benz Stadium will host GHSA's state title games next weekend).
Whatever happens Friday, it has been a wild and thrilling ride for all involved -- including an entire community, which is swelling with pride for its Wildcats. And with the momentum of a focused program, school -- and entire county for that matter -- behind it, Rabun enters this weekend's showdown with high hopes.
Absolutely no one is laughing at the thought of mountain domination anymore -- except maybe the Wildcats, chuckling at all who once deemed Friday's reality an impossibility.
NOTE: To watch a video feature with the Wildcats and what their historic semifinal run has meant for its community click "play" in the video box above.
