TIGER -- Rabun County captured its first outright region championship in grand style Friday night.<br />
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The Wildcats (8-2, 6-0 Region 8-AA) jumped on Greene County early and then cruised to a 30-7 victory at home.<br />
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The Wildcats shared the Region 8-A title in 1998, when they advanced to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs.<br />
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Rabun County led 14-0 after the first quarter on the strength of two Eli Gipson touchdown runs. Gipson, who finished with 115 yards rushing, scored on runs of 26 and 26 yards three minutes apart. The Wildcats pushed their lead to 21-0 by halftime on a 17-yard touchdown run by Charlie Woerner.<br />
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While the offense was making an early statement, the defense clamped down on the Tigers (5-5, 4-2) holding them to just 164 total yards of offense.<br />
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Greene County managed to cut the lead to 21-7 midway through the third quarter but Rabun County scored the final nine points to pull away.<br />
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Rabun County will play host to Chattooga, the No. 4 seed from Region 7-AA, next week in the first round of the playoffs. The Wildcats are looking for their first playoff win 1998.<br />
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Greene County, which fell to the No. 3 seed in 8-AA, will travel to Coosa, the No. 2 seed from 7-AA.
