OAKWOOD — Rabun County football may play in Class AA, but the Wildcats have proven themselves more than capable of taking on bigger schools -- and did so again on Friday night.
The Wildcats sprinted to a 18-point halftime lead en route to a 34-10 victory over West Hall in Oakwood, notching their third win over a Class AAAA program this season.
"I'm just proud of their effort. Sometimes it's all relative to AAAAs, AAs. Sometimes it's just about playing for 48 minutes on the field with all your heart," Rabun County coach Lee Shaw said. "We just beat a very good, very well coached, very athletic West Hall team. It's an exciting time to be a Rabun County Wildcat right now, our guys played with so much heart. Up and down tonight, tried to give it away at times but they battled, and that's all I can ask for."
The Wildcats (3-0) wrapped up the non-region portion of their schedule displaying the versatile offense that has become their trademark.
Quarterback Bailey Fisher rushed for 79 yards and a touchdown, while also completing 13 of 22 passes for 206 yards and a score. Cal Drummond also helped carry the load, rushing 16 times for 97 yards and two scores.
Rabun battled a gritty West Hall defense early, using two Andrew Barnes field goals to notch a 6-0 first quarter lead before West Hall's Israel Lopez drilled a 27-yard field goal of his own to make it 6-3. But the Spartans (4-2) could not keep the visitors out of the end zone in the second quarter, as Fisher scored from a yard out and then connected with Braxton Hicks on a 40-yard touchdown pass.
West Hall tried to claw its way back into the contest in the fourth quarter, Michael Thompson scoring on a four-yard run to make it 21-10. But Rabun responded with back-to-back scoring drives -- Drummond putting the finishing touches on each with touchdown runs of one and four yards.
"We've had some mishaps, we've not played well at times, and at times we've played really well, so... the whole point is to have that tough non-region, try to work out the kinks, iron out some issues, and be ready for your region play," Shaw said.
Rabun County will enter Region 8-AA play next week on the back of 382 total yards. The Wildcats host Banks County on Friday.
West Hall, meanwhile, will take a week off before entering the Region 7-AAAA gauntlet against Chestatee on Oct. 7. The Spartans managed 265 yards on Friday -- 170 of that on the ground.
AJ Favorite led all West Hall rushers with 50 yards on two carries.
