Game of the Week – Commerce vs Rabun County

Our Game of the Week takes us to Commerce for a big-time rivalry showdown between the Tigers and Wildcats – a good ol’ catfight!

COMMERCE
The Tigers at 6-0 have just clawed apart opposing teams. Whether it’s on offense, defense, or special teams, this has been a complete domination we’ve seen by Commerce, who boast a top-5 ranked offense and defense. Everything is going so well, as the Tigers are firing on all cylinders.
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RABUN COUNTY
The Wildcats are 4-2, and while both losses were a bit puzzling and/or controversial, Rabun County seems to have found its stride here at the right time. JK Fruster accounts for nearly all of the scores, so as he goes, the team goes. This is a dangerous team right now, and there’s not a game the Cats haven’t been in come the closing minutes.

By the numbers

COMMERCE
6-0 (1-0 IN 8-AA)
Region Standings: T-1st
47.7 OFFENSE AVG (#2 in 2A)
5.7 DEFENSE AVG (#1 in 2A)
#5 State Ranking

RABUN COUNTY
4-2 (1-0 IN 8-AA)
Region Standings: T-1st
32.2 OFFENSE AVG (#10 in 2A)
20.7 DEFENSE AVG
N/A State Ranking

Prediction

We typically make a case for both, with our official pick linked below. Let’s begin with the Tigers. Commerce has taken some flack for having an easy schedule, but Rabun’s has been almost identical if you tally up the wins and losses of opponents to date. That said, there’s something to say about the WAY you win. Okay, so the Tigers should be 6-0, but the way they’re doing it shows this team is the real deal. Tate Kirk has yet to throw a pick, and Marco Huff is running scorched earth all over the field. The defense is unreal and relentless. If Commerce plays its brand of ball, it wins, especially at home. Rabun County needs a game in which someone other than JK Fruster scores multiple TDs. That can come in aggregate, and the Cats will still need a big game from Fruster, but someone else has to do some scoring. Defensively, it’s going to take Rabun creating at minimum three turnovers (counting turnover on downs). Both teams have a shot here… OFFICIAL PICK

Win-Loss stats

For Commerce, the Tigers have gone 7-3 overall in our 10 games covering them. That includes going 4-1 in the past five. The Wildcats have gone 57-18 in our 75 games covering them, including three straight wins and winners of six of the last seven.

Matchup details

TIME: 7:30 PM
PLACE: Commerce HS / Commerce, GA
LAST MEETING: 2025: #7 Rabun County 55, Commerce 28
ALL-TIME RECORD: Commerce leads the all-time series 23-9-1
RECORDS: #5 Commerce Tigers (6-0) vs Rabun County Wildcats (4-2)
HEAD COACHES: Lenny Gregory (71-61; 12 Seasons); Rance Gillespie (184-96; 24 Seasons)

Historically speaking

Commerce has by and large dominated the all-time series at 23-9-1 overall dating back to 1951. However, you can call it a bookend series. Rabun County won the first two meetings in 1951-52, and four of the first six overall. Commerce then won 14 of the next 15 from 1954-1995, with one tie mixed in. Since 2013, Rabun County has won three of five meetings, including last year’s nearly 30-point victory. These veteran head coaches, who both have won state titles, have squared off just once (last year).

Team Leaders (2026)

*Stats accumulated by team-published data on Ga MaxPreps

COMMERCE TIGERS

PASSING
Tate Kirk – 892 yds, 15 TD, 0 INT
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RUSHING
Marco Huff – 732 yds, 12 TD
Jace Lyle – 212 yds, 4 TD
Jamario Bonds – 147 yds, 2 TD

RECEIVING
Ty Sorrells – 312 yds, 5 TD, 20 rec
Essien Lockleer – 262 yds, 5 TD, 15 rec
Robert Spry – 103 yds, 3 TD, 7 rec
Marco Huff – 64 yds, 0 TD, 7 rec
Mason Brown – 43 yds, 2 TD, 5 rec

DEFENSIVE LEADERS
Rivers West – 44 TKL, 3 TFL, 1 Sack, 1 BLK
Caden McWilliams – 40 TKL, 3 TFL, 1 Sack, 1 FR
Layden Bryson – 30 TKL, 3 TFL, 1 Sack, 1 FR, 1 FF
Bronc Cash – 28 TKL, 6 TFL, 2 Sacks
Jude Forrester – 27 TKL, 8 TFL, 1 Sack, 1 FR, 1 FF
Marco Huff – 21 TKL, 3 TFL, 3 Sacks, 1 INT, 1 FR

RABUN COUNTY WILDCATS

PASSING
Cooper Kowalsky – 743 yds, 3 TD, 5 INT

RUSHING
JK Fruster – 589 yds, 15 TD
Amir Thompson – 432 yds, 2 TD
Wyatt English – 117 yds, 1 TD
Cooper Kowalsky – 111 yds, 2 TD

RECEIVING
Reed Lafevers – 149 yds, 0 TD, 11 rec
JK Fruster – 145 yds, 0 TD, 10 rec
Reed Burrell – 138 yds, 1 TD, 8 rec
Colter Cannon – 115 yds, 0 TD, 17 rec
Hayden Cannon – 66 yds, 1 TD, 5 rec

DEFENSIVE LEADERS
Baylor Potts – 71 TKL, 6 TFL, 1 Sack
Brock Brady – 66 TKL, 7 TFL, 3 FF
Reed Burrell – 40 TKL, 1 FR
JK Fruster – 39 TKL, 6 TFL, 3 INT, 1 FR, 1 FF
Colter Cannon – 38 TKL, 1 INT
Simon Robinson – 31 TKL, 5 TFL, 2 Sacks
Ryan Yearwood – 29 TKL, 5 TFL, 1 INT
Mack Williams – 28 TKL, 6 TFL, 1 Sack, 1 FF