There are just 23 days remaining until the kickoff of the 2018 high school football season. But make no mistake, preparations for the upcoming campaign got underway months ago in weight rooms, sand pits and practice fields throughout the state. And teams throughout northeast Georgia are in full countdown mode.
With that in mind we spent the last couple of weeks catching up with programs around our area to get a feel for how spring practice went, how the summer is going and what coaches believe the fall will look like. We call the series "Two-a-Days" in honor of those old-school grinding sessions that lead us out of summer and into fall, asking each area coach two key questions about the state of their respective programs.
Over the next two weeks, AccessWDUN's Friday Game Night will get you prepped for the start of gridiron action with responses from coaches throughout northeast Georgia. (Teams run in alphabetical order)...
RABUN COUNTY
The Wildcats embarked on a truly jaw-dropping voyage last season, charging their way into the Class AA state title game, becoming the first mountain school to ever play for it all -- and, thanks to winter weather delays, did so on home turf. They did so on the back of an extraordinary team effort, but that team also contained two outright stars in quarterback Bailey Fisher and safety Austin Jones. Fisher set all manner of yardage and touchdown records, putting up the type of season remeniscent of a certain Deshaun Watson or Connor Shaw. Yet Fisher has graduated to the collegiate ranks. Jones, however, is still around -- as are a number of young hopefuls -- and coach Lee Shaw believes his team is ready to carry on the amazing journey of the previous campaign.
QUESTION: The program is coming off an incredible season that saw Rabun County pull off something usually reserved for Hollywood film scripts in reaching the state title game. How did that experience effect the kids, the coaches, the entire program?
ANSWER: That experience was priceless for a team, school and community. It was amazing to see a community catch the fever of Friday Night football. It also answered the Question, "Why not us?" Why can't a mountain school play for a State Championship? It also solidified what we believe in: That the grind of the weight room, practicing with great tempo, suffering together as a team and playing with relentless effort will give you the opportunity to be a Champion.
Q: The obvious curiosity for anyone with even a cursory knowledge of the program is that you graduated a player that may go down as the Wildcats' greatest ever in Bailey Fisher. There is no way to replace someone that meant so much to the team both on the field and off. But how have y'all prepared for life post-Fisher? I know you were excited about the young guys coming up, but who will also step into Bailey's leadership position?
A: It's always a challenge to replace a high school legend. But you always have a player that wants to be "that guy," and that's a good thing. For us, we have been blessed to have had some great ones through the years. I believe we will have another impact player in Austin Jones. Without a doubt one of the best athletes I've ever coached. Austin Jones will be "that guy" for us. Austin will be surrounded by a group of seniors that are as tough as any we've had. Players like Jackson Webb, Shawn Lovell, Austin Sosebee and Brison Beck will be some names you'll hear a lot about this season. After the departure of Bailey Fisher in January, the number 14 and QB position has been passed down to rising 6-foot-1, 195-pound freshman Gunner Stockton. I'm excited to see the story Gunner writes in his four years as a starting QB. Rabun County Football is still in good hands with Gunner Stockton spinning it.
- Previously in Two-a-Days: NORTH HALL
- Up Next in Two-a-Days: RIVERSIDE MILITARY
