In a battle of NC’s two top teams, Rabun Gap stops Providence Day on the road
Rabun Gap cemented its claim as the best high school football team that plays in North Carolina on Friday.
The nationally ranked Eagles, who are based in Georgia but play in the North Carolina independent school league, came to Charlotte to face nationally ranked Providence Day and ran up a three-touchdown lead on the Chargers, who have won the past two NCISAA state championships.
Rabun Gap’s 42-27 win was no fluke and will give the Eagles home-field advantage in the state playoffs. If Providence Day (8-1) can get back to the state final, it will likely have to drive three hours to Georgia to play it.
Friday’s game matched the top two teams playing in NC high school leagues, regardless of class, according to MaxPreps.
And Rabun Gap (10-0), which has players from 11 states and 14 countries, won Friday’s matchup mainly due to its advantage on the offensive and defensive lines. While Providence Day had several key players playing both ways, Rabun Gap mostly two-platooned, and the Eagles — who have played in the N.C. private school league for years — appeared to gradually wear down the Chargers.
But Providence Day still had a big chance early in the third quarter to get back into the game.
Right before halftime, the Chargers had driven 99 yards, capped by a 4-yard run from QB Jadyn Davis, to close to 21-14. Then, to start the third quarter, Providence Day stopped Rabun Gap on third down and the Eagles were ready to punt.
Providence Day, however, appeared to have too many players on the field and coach Chad Grier called timeout. During the break, Rabun Gap coach Derek White decided to go for it, at his 34, employing a bunch formation that Providence Day had trouble with all game.
On that fourth down, Rabun Gap ran a direct snap, in the bunch formation, to wide receiver Trey Horne, a Georgia Tech recruit. Horne, who scored five touchdowns Friday, ran up the middle for a 64-yard score.
4th and 3 #Touchdown@RabunGapEagles 28
VS@PDS_ChargersFB 14@ProvidenceDay @charlottepreps @langstonwertzjr #TalkingPrepsNC pic.twitter.com/kXqTvEXXgb— CarolinaVarsity (@CarolinaVarsity) October 21, 2023
Rabun Gap eventually stretched its lead to 35-14. But down 21, Providence Day stormed back, scoring 14 points in three minutes.
Davis, who threw for more than 300 yards, hit Michigan commit Channing Goodwin with a 4-yard pass on fourth-and-goal with 10:28 to play, but a bobbled snap ruined the point-after attempt. Providence Day trailed 35-27.
Down eight, Davis appeared to be ready to get the ball back, but on third-and-long, Rabun Gap again came up with another monster play: Eagles QB Gavin Owens to tight end Darren Agu for a 45-yard gain. That gave the Eagles a first down at the Chargers’ 13. A few plays later, with 6:28 to play, Horn scored his fifth touchdown of the game, extending the Eagles’ lead to 15 points.
