TIGER — Rabun County football coach Lee Shaw made sure that his players understood it this preseason: "We're no longer the hunter; we're the hunted. We're going to get everybody's best shot."
That's what happens when you put together the kind of the season the Wildcats experienced in 2014, winning the Region 8-AA crown (the program's first solo region title) and claiming the school's first state playoff victory since 1998. And when you consider that Rabun County returns 20 seniors -- "I think that's the most in school history," Shaw said -- you better believe the bull's eye is squarely on the Wildcats.
Taking Rabun County out, however, could prove difficult indeed. Beyond just experience in Tiger, there is also plenty of talent, including University of Georgia-bound athlete Charlie Woerner (who led the team with 1,143 yards rushing, caught 45 passes for a team-high 659 yards, finished with 22 total touchdowns and also paced the Wildcats with 122 tackles) and playmakers such as Alden Wright and Jack Johnson.
If the Wildcats can get their lines of scrimmage sorted out -- Rabun may have to turn to some underclassmen to start -- the next step may prove special indeed.
"These guys are blue-collar and go to work; this is also the first group I've had that has played for me all four years, so this is special to see this group mature into seniors," Shaw said.
RABUN COUNTY: NEED TO KNOW
- MASCOT: Wildcats
- TEAM COLORS: Red and White
- CURRENT REGION: 8-AA
- HEAD COACH/RECORD AT SCHOOL: Lee Shaw, fourth season, 23-11
- 2014 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 9-3, second round Class AA playoffs, Region 8-AA champion
- KEY LOSSES: QB Collin Grant, OL Tanner Veal, RB Cain Tomlin, LB Tucker Williams, LB Bruce Burrell, DE Jeremy Cannon
- OFFENSIVE STYLE: Spread option -- the Wildcats will look to spread out defenses and take advantage of the resulting space via the run and pass. Rabun possesses a talented group of receivers and perhaps the premier athlete in northeast Georgia in Charlie Woerner.
- KEY OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: 8 returning starters -- Sr. ATH Charlier Woerner, Sr. RB Eli Gipson, Sr. WR Alden Wright, So. QB Bailey Fisher, Sr. WR Jack Johnson, Sr. WR Tyler Harris, Jr. OL Peyton Backer, Sr. RB Dae’Quan Harris
- DEFENSIVE STYLE: 3-3 stack -- Rabun County will look to get it's multitude of athletes on the field and in position to make plays.
- KEY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS: 6 returning starters -- Sr. Saf Charlie Woerner, Sr. DB Jack Johnson, Sr. OLB Tyler Harris, So. ILB Dawson Hendricks, Sr. ILB Rhodes Jones
- SPECIAL TEAMS: Sr. PK Kodie Phillips, Jr. P Noah Cannon, a number of players battling for return duties
- STRENGTH: Skill positions/experience -- With 20 seniors on the team, perhaps the most in program history, and many of them exceptional athletes, the Wildcats could well be explosive from the get-go.
- QUESTION: Line of scrimmage -- Rabun County could well be looking at some underclassmen to play in the trenches, which means a steep learning curve.
- KEY GAMES: The season opener against a powerful Jefferson team (especially along the lines of scrimmage) will give the Wildcats a great barometer as they open the campaign in Week Zero (Aug. 21). Game two against border rival Habersham Central (now coached by former Shaw assistant Benji Harrison) is also intriguing. Rabun County closes out its Region 8-AA campaign against the three other teams to make the playoffs from the league in 2014.
- TRENDING: Rabun County continued its advancement under Shaw in 2014, including some impressive firsts: first solo region crown, and first state playoff win since 1998. There's no doubt the Wildcats are a program on the rise. If they can continue that trend in 2015 expect some big fireworks from "the other side of the (Tallulah) Gorge" indeed.
2015 SCHEUDLE
Aug. 21 vs. Jefferson
Aug. 28 at Habersham Central
Sept. 4 at Mt. Pisgah Christian
Sept. 11 at Jackson County
Sept. 18 at *Riverside Military
Oct. 2 vs. *Social Circle
Oct. 9 at *Oglethorpe County
Oct. 16 vs. *Union County
Oct. 23 vs. *Washington-Wilkes
Nov. 6 at *Greene County
*- indicates region contest
(All kickoffs scheduled for 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
