TIGER — Rabun County clinched a playoff spot and Gunner Stockton tied Trevor Lawrence for the state’s all-time record in touchdown passes in Friday night’s 45-7 win over Elbert County in Region 8-2A action.
The Wildcats (8-1, 3-0 Region 8-2A) will take on Union County in Blairsville next week for the region title.
Stockton now has 161 TD passes for his career to tie Lawrence and passed for 262 yards to inch closer to the all-time passing yardage record, also held by Lawrence, who played at Cartersville.
The Wildcats offense got things going quickly as Stockton connected with Jaiden Gibson on a 7-yard touchdown pass on the opening drive. After an Elbert punt, Stockton found Ethan Clarke on a 28-yard TD pass for a quick 14-0 lead less than seven minutes into the game.
The Blue Devils (3-4 1-1 Region 8-2A) pulled within 14-7 on a 14-yard touchdown run from Quan Moss early in the second quarter. The Wildcats scored the final 31 points to blow open the game.
Rabun County put the game away with a 28-point second quarter. After the run by Moss, Stockton answered with a 19-yard scoring run and Turner Grimmett had an 80-yard interception return for a touchdown for the Wildcats. Stockton scored on a 4-yard run and then connected with Baxley O’Brien on a 5-yard TD pass for a 42-7 halftime lead.
The only scoring in the second half was a 23-yard field goal by Rabun’s Gus Hood in the fourth quarter.
Gibson added to his state-leading receiving total with 113 yards on 11 catches. O’Brien had 4 catches for 69 yards for the Wildcats.
Elbert County was held to jst 35 yards rushing on 17 attempts. Quarterback Braydon Scarborough was just 10-of-25 for 111 yards and had two interceptions.
