Providence Day avenges state final loss to Rabun Gap in blowout win at home

A matchup of teams that have met for the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association Division I football title three times in the past four years lived up to the hype on Friday night as Providence Day toppled visting Rabun Gap, Ga., 55-34 in an offensive shootout featuring 905 yards of offense.

Providence Day senior Zaid Lott, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound Syracuse commitment, accounted for all eight of his team’s touchdowns — four passing and four rushing — as his team overcame an early deficit for the win.

Based on recent history, the contest may be the first of two meetings between the two private school powers that entered the contest ranked among the top teams in the country.

“I’m so proud of these guys,” said Providence Day coach Chad Grier, whose team improved to 4-0 on the season. “We came out wanting to be relentless and we played well and guys made great plays.

“Zaid played really well. He may be the most underrated quarterback around. Against the schedule we’ve played and what he’s done, he’s big time. Syracuse is getting a good one.”

Rabun Gap, the defending Division I state champion, scored on its first three possessions to take a 21-14 lead before the Chargers’ defense stiffened up and Lott and his offense caught fire.

Lott threw a touchdown pass and rushed for three scores in Providence Day’s 28-point second quarter that gave it the lead for good.

Three who made a difference

Zaid Lott, Providence Day: He ran 21 times for 130 yards and four touchdowns and completed 23 of 29 passes for 336 yards and four more touchdowns. He led the Chargers to a 483-422 offensive yardage advantage

Gordon Sellars, Providence Day: He caught seven passes for 96 yards and three touchdowns with most catches coming while in close defensive coverage.

Gavin Owens, Rabun Gap: As part of a two-quarterback system, the left-hander completed 10 of 14 passes for 226 yards two touchdowns for the Eagles.

Notable

• Both rosters were filled with future NCAA Division I talent as Rabun Gap had WR Walker Bryson (Indiana), QB Gavin Owens (Memphis), WR Isaac Obrotka (Georgia Tech), DE Ryan Hassett (Northern Illinois), WR Joshua Buckhalter (East Tennessee State) and OL Wilson Zierer (Auburn) and Providence Day had QB Zaid Lott (Syracuse), WR Gordon Sellars (Clemson), LB Quintin McCray (Liberty) and injured OL Leo Delaney (Clemson).

• Providence Day entered the game ranked No. 2 by MaxPreps.com in N.C. in all classifications (behind only Greensboro Grimsley) and Rabun Gap, which fell to 2-3 against a challenging schedule, was No. 11 in Georgia in all classifications.

• Rabun Gap had won three of the previous four matchups between the teams, who have played for the NCISAA Division I title in 2021 (Providence Day won 14-9), in 2023 (Providence Day won 34-27) and last year (Rabun Gap won 42-39).

• Providence Day third-grader Reece Thomas was a guest public address announcer during the game on Friday. Thomas won the “Public Address Announcer for a Night” during a spring auction at the school.

They said it

“They played well and executed and had a great game plan. We turned it over twice. This game means you’ve probably got to go back to Charlotte to win a state championship.” — Rabun Gap coach Derek White.

Game Summary

Rabun Gap 13 8 7 6 — 34

Providence Day 7 28 13 7 — 55

FIRST QUARTER

RG: Joshua Buckhalter 4 run (pass failed)

PD: Gordon Sellars 23 pass from Zaid Lott (Jacob Baggett kick)

RG: Joshua Buckhalter 74 pass from Gavin Owens (Praise Chane kick).

SECOND QUARTER

RG: Walker Bryson 67 pass from Owens (Buckhalter run)

PD: Zaid Lott 5 run (Baggett kick)

PD: Lott 22 run (Baggett kick)

PD: Lott 1 run (Baggett kick)

THIRD QUARTER

PD: Sellars 23 pass from Lott (Baggett kick)

PD: Steele Fletcher 10 pass from Lott (kick failed)

RG: Jordan Linda 9 run (Chane kick)

FOURTH QUARTER

PD: Lott 30 run (Baggett kick)

RG: Royce Djouguem 2 run (kick failed)

This story was originally published September 19, 2025 at 9:42 PM.