The Adairsville Tigers (1-1) lost to the Rabun County Wildcats by a score of 35-20 Friday night.

Adairsville received the opening kickoff and wasted no time putting points on the board. The Tigers moved the ball down the field with ease, and Jonathan Gough capped off their first drive with a 14-yard rushing touchdown to put them ahead 7-0 early in the first quarter. Rabun County responded with a long drive of its own, and the Wildcats found the endzone on a 6-yard touchdown pass to make the score 7-7 in the first quarter. The score would remain tied heading into the second quarter.

After getting a stop on defense, Rabun County was driving down the field, but Tamarius Wilkey put a stop to that, recording an interception and getting the ball back for Adairsville in the second quarter. The second quarter was pretty quiet after this takeaway, and both offenses struggled to find the endzone. However, Adairsville scored right before halftime as Gough scored a short rushing touchdown to put the Tigers ahead 14-7 late in the first half. Rabun County didn’t have much time on the clock after this score, but the Wildcats found the endzone on a long touchdown pass to tie the score 14-14 right before halftime. Adairsville was unable to respond before the first half ended, and the score remained 14-14 going into the break.

At the beginning of the third quarter, both teams failed to do much on offense, but Rabun County got the scoring started as the Wildcats took a screen pass 69 yards into the endzone. The touchdown put Rabun County ahead 21-14 early in the third quarter. After this, Adairsville desperately needed to get some momentum, and did. It forced a fumble and recovered the ball to regain possession in the third quarter. The Tigers eventually punished the Wildcats for coughing up the football as Gough scored a short rushing touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, Adairsville missed the extra point.

Rabun County took advantage of the missed extra point, responding with a clutch, short touchdown run to go ahead 28-20 late in the fourth quarter. Adairsville needed a touchdown to stay in the game after allowing this score, but the Tigers threw an interception at the goal line, crushing their chances of winning the game. The Wildcats added insult to injury on the ensuing drive, scoring on an 87-yard touchdown pass to go ahead 35-20. That would end the game, and Rabun County walked away with a double- digit victory.

Next week, the Tigers will face the Cass Colonels on the road and you listen to that game on Bartow Sports Zone.