Indians Edged by Wildcats, 14-7

Stephens County plays one of the top teams in Single-A Division One football close, but comes up just short on the road in non-region football.

Friday night in Tiger, the Indians led at the half but fell to Rabun County, 14-7.

Indians’ Head Coach Wesley Tankersley said it was a tough result against a good football team.

“We did not do enough to win it,” Tankersley said. “We did not do enough offensively to get the job done. It is disappointing. The kids played really hard. We have to do a better job, as a whole and as a staff, to put more points on the board. That is all it is. In the second half, we did not move it with the same intensity and focus as we did in the first half.”

Rabun County jumped out early with a short field goal to give them a 3-0 lead after one quarter. In the second quarter, Stephens County took the lead on a three-yard touchdown run by Tyson Everett, making it 7-3. Rabun County cut it to one point on another field goal, as the teams went to halftime with the Indians leading, 7-6.

The Wildcats retook the lead with just under four minutes left in the third quarter, scoring on a 7-yard touchdown run by Keegan Stover to go up 14-7 after converting the two-point conversion.

Stephens County’s defense stood strong throughout the fourth quarter, stopping Rabun County on multiple occasions. However, the Indian offense could not capitalize and put the tying touchdown on the board. Rabun County sealed the victory with a Jaden Gibson interception in the final minutes.

With the loss, Stephens County falls to 1-1 on the season, while Rabun County moves to 2-0 on the season with the win.

This coming week, Stephens County will return home to take on Flowery Branch in another non-region game. Kick-off between the Indians and the Falcons is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. with coverage set to begin at 5:30 p.m. on WNEG and wnegradio.com with the Indian Tailgate Show.

In other action from around the region …

Habersham Central beat White County, 42-28
Franklin County lost to Pickens County, South Carolina, 42-17
Elbert County beat Madison County, 48-34

Player Awards
Georgia Farm Bureau Player of the Game – Javin Gordon
Hart EMC Lineman of the Game – Aidan Butts
Highway 17 Diner Sub of the Game – Bailey Stowe
First Baptist Church Spirit Award – Will Tomlinson