Our Week 8 Game of the Week takes us to Commerce for the first time this season in an intense rivalry game between the Tigers and Wildcats.
Commerce
The Tigers have been solid all season, but really following that 0-2 start, they’ve been tremendous. A win at Luella and Madison County was followed by a gut-wrenching loss to #2 Athens Academy that could have robbed the region title away from Commerce. But then a huge win over #10 Elbert County followed, and leads into this one. This is the last big one for the Tigers, as they have will have played all 3 of the best opponents in region. Jaiden Daniels continues to heat up, and Tysean Wiggins and Jacari Huff have already been lighting up the scoreboard all season. The Tigers, even at 3-3 overall, are right where they need to be.
Rabun County
The Wildcats are 4-1 and easily could be 5-0, save the one road loss without their QB at Fannin County. Without Ty Truelove, this team still finds ways. He’s been out of 2 1/2 games since the White County game, and Colter Cannon has managed the offense in his stead. That means leaning heavily on Reid Giles, Noah English, and Lake Evans. The defense has been really good, and the 4-game win streak coming in gives the Cats a chance to carry momentum forward and try and grab an inside track to the region crown.
By the numbers (2024)
Commerce
3-3 (1-1 in 8-A DI)
Region Standings: 3rd
26.0 OFFENSE AVG
23.0 DEFENSE AVG
#9 State Ranking
Rabun County
5-1 (2-0 in Region 8-A DI)
Region Standings: T-1st
31.2 OFFENSE AVG
18.7 DEFENSE AVG
#6 State Ranking
Game Highlights
Be looking for highlights post-game later tonight as well as a story recapping Week Eight. BLITZ partners with Fox 5’s 11 PM “High 5 Sports” show throughout the season. We make sure to get Commerce and Rabun County coverage on the big market show! (schedule is different this week). You can also follow us on Twitter (@BlitzSportsGa) for live score updates (5G pending).
Prediction
We typically make a case for both, with our official pick linked below. Let’s begin with the Tigers. Controlling that clock, just like they did the last 2 years in this series, is pivotal. The chain game must stay on the move, and Commerce needs to milk the clock with its signature long drives, and finish them off strong. If they do that, and specifically get 2 scores up, it’s as good as in the bag. For Rabun County, it might mean Colter Cannon hitting some check-down passes just to keep the defense honest. It’s going to be easy for Commerce to load the box to all-out stop Reid Giles, but getting him the ball in open space, or Lake Evans, is going to be crucial. The defense must make stops and perhaps get a turnover or two, and the offense has to convert in the red zone.
Details Of The Matchup
TIME: 7:30 PM Kickoff
PLACE: Commerce HS / Commerce, GA / Ray Lamb Stadium
LAST MEETING: 2023: #3 Commerce 23, #4 Rabun 17 (OT)
ALL-TIME RECORD: Commerce leads 22-8-1 in the all-time series
RECORDS: #9 Commerce Tigers (3-3; 1-1 in 8-A DI); #6 Rabun County Wildcats (5-1; 2-0 in 8-A DI)
HEAD COACHES: Mark Hollars (56-40; 9 Seasons); Michael Davis (26-6; 3 Seasons)
Historically Speaking
This rivalry series dates back to 1951. That’s a long time. Rabun County won the first and second meeting before Commerce returned the favor twice. From 1964-1995, the Tigers won 14 of the 15 contests, with the other being a 20-20 tie. It wasn’t until 1996 that the Wildcats got back in the win column. From 1999-2012 (4 games), it was all Tigers. Rabun won in 2013 and 2022 before Commerce won last year’s thriller in overtime to claim the region title.
Team Leaders (2024 Stats)
*Stats accumulated by team-published data on Ga MaxPreps
Commerce
Passing
Jaiden Daniels – 145 pass yds, 1 TD
Rushing
Tysean Wiggins – 845 yds, 9 TD
Jacari Huff – 577 yds, 9 TD
Jaiden Daniels – 257 yds, 2 TD
Receiving
Tysean Wiggins – 120 yds, 1 TD
Defensive Leaders (No Stats Available)
Jermiah Mintz
Mac Mullis
Rabun County
Passing
Ty Truelove – 309 yds, 4 TD, 0 INT, 54% passing
Colter Cannon – 74 yds, 0 TD, 2 INT, 64% passing
Rushing
Reid Giles – 774 yds, 9 TD
Lake Evans – 361 yds, 6 TD
Ty Truelove – 147 yds, 3 TD
Noah English – 107 yds, 2 TD
Colter Cannon – 50 yds, 0 TD
Receiving
Reid Giles – 177 yds, 1 TD
Lake Evans – 108 yds, 2 TD
Jake Payne – 88 yds, 1 TD
Defensive Leaders
Jakaden Shiflet – 39 TKL, 5 TFL, 2 FR, 2 FF
Reid Giles – 35 TKL, 5 TFL, 1 INT, 1 FF, 1 FR
Noah English – 35 TKL, 3 TFL, 2 Sacks, 1 FF, 1 FR
Dane Tyler – 34 TKL, 4 TFL, 4 Sacks, 1 FR
Reed Burrell – 33 TKL, 1 TFL, 1 FR
Elvis Hunt – 33 TKL, 3 TFL
Ethan Hopper – 31 TKL, 2 TFL, 1 Sack, 1 FF, 10 QBH
Tucker Buchanan – 24 TKL, 2 Sacks, 1 FR
