TIGER, Ga. — For well more than a decade, Rabun County football has been synonymous with a high-powered, sophisticated offense. Players like Charlie Worner, Bailey Fisher, Braxton Hicks, Adriel Clark, Jaden Gibson, and most recently, Gunner Stockton, have ripped apart opposing defenses.
But the true key to any success the Wildcats have been able to sustain on the statewide scene over that time has been because of their defense. For instance, in their state runner-up season in 2017, they allowed just 11.47 points/game.
In 2024, the Wildcats gave up the most points since 2012 (272 points, 26.36 ppg), Lee Shaw’s first season. Over the past two seasons combined, they allowed 520 points (21.67 ppg), their worst two-year stretch since 2011-12.
New coach Rance Gillespie was determined to have them get back to what he felt was the essence of “mountain” football.
Former North Gwinnett coach Bill Stewart, who won a Class 7A state title with the Bulldogs in 2017, joined Gillespie as the defensive coordinator this season, and they immediately began tweaking things. Only three players remained in their spot from a year ago -- junior defensive end Ryan Yearwood, senior nose guard Ethan Hopper, and senior free safety Reid Giles.
A new linebacking corps has been at the heart of the unit with sophomores Jakaden Fruster and Brock Brady and senior Lake Evans leading the way. Senior Dane Tyler moved from linebacker to defensive end. Junior free safety Reed Burrell was also moved, and the changes have been instrumental for a group that so far has allowed just 6 points in wins over White County and Fannin County. The Wildcats gave up 55 points to those teams in 2024.
“Our guys right now are flying around and hitting people,” he said. “We've got 11 people getting to the ball. I think that's a great place to start.”
Gillespie said they felt that patience would be needed as new schemes and philosophies were implemented during the offseason. But he was more than pleased with how quickly the upperclassmen bought in.
In the first two games, the Wildcats have generated 16 1/2 TFLs, 8 1/2 sacks, and 14 QB hurries. Giles and Burrell have paced the unit with 14 and 12 tackles, respectively, from their free safety spots.
“By no means are we playing perfect. There are still some areas that we can get better at, both fundamentally and in understanding some schemes,” he said. “But the guys bought in right from the beginning. And as far as the intensity and our willingness to run into you, and our physicality and those things, you kind of base a good defense on what you're seeing from that side of the ball. I like what I’ve been seeing.”
This makes the Wildcats even more dangerous than usual, especially when you look at their offense with a healthy senior Ty Truelove back under center and dynamic playmaker Giles in the backfield.
Rabun County’s dip to a stunning 6-5 record in 2024 -- its lowest win total since 2012 as well -- was partly because of the defense and Truelove missing three games while still recovering from offseason surgery to fix a torn labrum in 2023. Giles had a monster season, rushing for 1,348 yards and 16 TDs and catching 30 passes for another 387 yards and two scores, but it wasn’t enough to offset a passing attack that threw for less than 900 yards on the season.
After throwing for just 808 yards with 7 TD passes in 2024, Truelove already has tossed 3 TDs for 377 yards in two games -- much more like the pace he set in 2023 when he threw for 2,298 yards and 24 TDs. It’s certainly worth a discussion that Truelove may be the most valuable player in north Georgia.
When he’s healthy, he may be the best quarterback north of Atlanta.
“Yeah, he is certainly a big piece to what we have going on here,” Gillespie said. “The way the game is played today, that position in itself is super important. And in our style of offense, we put a lot on his shoulders, and he's done a good job with it.
“Ty is playing at a high level right now. He is really elite in his preparation. Ever since I've gotten here, heck, he beats me here some mornings. He's in my office, between 6:30 a.m. and 7, just about every morning. He is really focused and serious about the way he prepares for a game. He deserves to be playing at a high level right now just because he's worked hard.”
But as the Wildcats (2-0) get ready to head to Class 4A Dalton (0-3) on Friday, Gillespie stated there is still plenty of room to improve.
“I certainly don't think that we're at our peak right now,” he said. “But I do think that we're playing with the right intensity. You just try to improve and get your team to play at their peak each and every week. If you do that, then it builds on each other.”
