TIGER — The Region 8-AA crown most definitely still runs through Tiger -- from the way Rabun County played on Friday so could a lot more.
The seventh-ranked Wildcats dominated from start to finish, hammering rival and sixth-ranked Union County 49-3 in Tiger.
Rabun County (7-1, 4-0 Region 8-AA) scored on six of its first seven possessions, blocked a punt for a touchdown and forced three turnovers, as a bewildered Panthers team struggled in every phase against a fired-up Wildcats squad.
"This was huge; the rest of the state was watching this, and they'll see that we beat the (No. 6) team in the state 49-3, and they'll see we're for real," said Rabun senior receiver/defensive back Alden Wright, who caught seven passes for 86 yards and had an interception in the win. "This was probably the best we've played in all four years I've been here."
Union County (7-1, 3-1) also suffered a blow when standout quarterback Joseph Mancuso went down with a leg injury and was helped from the field in the second quarter with the Panthers trailing 42-3 -- the senior did not return.
Rabun County rolled up 445 yards of offense, 293 of that off the arm of quarterback Bailey Fisher, who completed three touchdown passes and ran for one more. He finished the night 21 of 33, while also rushing for 52 yards.
"You never know how a rivalry game will turn out, but this was just impressive," Wildcats coach Lee Shaw said. "Hopefully the score tells the story. We just stomped on the gas there and never let up and beat a very good football team in all three phases. The guys were dialed in from the start. Our word of the week was 'reliable,' and these guys were reliable for each other tonight."
The Wildcats pounced almost immediately after kickoff -- an onsides attempt that Rabun covered -- blitzing down the field for a 1-yard touchdown run from Cal Drummond after just 1:44 -- the 7-0 lead was just scratching the surface, however, as Rabun went on to score on five of its six first half possessions.
Union County responded with a 10-play drive, but was held out of the end zone, forcing a 21-yard field goal from Knox Kiernan to pull within 7-3.
It proved the highlight of the contest for the Panthers, who gained 61 yards on the march -- they managed just 65 for the half and ended the game with 121.
Drummond got the Wildcats offense back on track on their next possession, ripping off a 27-yard touchdown run for a 14-3 advantage with 4:32 remaining in the first quarter. It was part of a five-carry, 60-yard effort before halftime for Drummond -- good enough to see him finish as the game's leading rusher despite going without a carry after halftime.
Rabun’s defense also got in on the act, picking off a Mancuso pass to set up the Wildcats' third score. Taking over at the Panthers 31-yard line Fisher struck for his first touchdown of the night, connecting with Jack Johnson for an 11-yard score.
Eli Gipson then took his turn to shine, as the Rabun County running back hauled in an 8-yard touchdown dart from Fisher for a 28-3 lead with 8:00 left in the second quarter. After stuffing Union’s offense on three downs, the Wildcats then blocked a Panthers punt for Gipson to scoop up and run into the end zone from five yards for a 35-3 lead.
Fisher completed the first half rout with a 19-yard touchdown run -- on fourth and goal -- for a 42-3 lead at the interval.
The biggest hit for Union, however, may have come on the Panthers final possession of the half, as Mancuso suffered a hit on the leg and had to be helped from the field. Back-up Cole Wright entered and showed plenty of grit -- but little could dent the Wildcats defense.
Rabun County ended the half with 339 total yards, including 191 yards passing for Fisher -- who continued his stellar play after the half, hooking up with Johnson for their second scoring pass of the contest, a 29-yard bomb that made it 49-3.
"We may be big rivals in athletics with Union County, but we have a lot of respect for them and how good they are," Shaw said. "Hopefully this will slingshot us to something really big."
Union County will take a bye next week, looking to regroup before playing host to Riverside Military in Blairsville on Oct. 30.
Rabun County, meanwhile, will take on Washington-Wilkes next week.
SCORING SUMMARY
UNION COUNTY.......3.....0....0....0 -- 3
RABUN COUNTY....21...21....7....0 -- 49
First Quarter
RC -- Drummond 1 run (Phillips kick) 10:16, 7-0
UC -- Kiernan 21 field goal 6:27, 7-3
RC -- Drummond 27 run (Phillips kick) 4:32, 14-3
RC -- Johnson 11 pass from Fisher (Phillips kick) 1:50, 21-3
Second Quarter
RC -- Gipson 8 pass from Fisher (Phillips kick) 8:00, 28-3
RC -- Gipson 5 fumble return (Phillips kick) 6:35, 35-3
RC -- Fisher 19 run (Phillips kick) 3:57, 42-3
Third Quarter
RC -- Johnson 29 pass from Fisher (Phillips kick) 9:25, 49-3
