Richmond Hill has lived on the edge on a couple of occasions this season. But on Friday night that edge broke off and the previously unbeaten Wildcats dropped into the abyss as they lost to East Coweta, 24-23.

Coach Matt LeZotte’s team (5-1) had relied on special teams to preserve victories this season: a blocked extra point attempt against Effingham County in a 22-21 win before going to Ware County and pulling off a 13-7 victory thanks to a blocked field goal attempt returned for a touchdown as time expired.

Against the Indians (5-1) the shoe was on the other foot and it pinched. Hard.

With four seconds to play Richmond Hill lined up for a 28-yard field goal attempt by Cole Morgan only to have it blocked giving the surging Indians (5-1) a come-from-behind win.

Richmond Hill had jumped out to a 13-0 lead to start the game, scoring twice before East Coweta had run a play. The Indians, who had won four games each of the last two seasons, were undeterred.

Once they got the ball senior kicker Aaron McWilliams got them on the scoreboard with a 56-yard field goal. McWilliams, who added three extra points, is one of the top kickers in the state. He is now 23-23 on PATs for the season and has made 13-of-15 field goals. For his career McWilliams is 101-103 on PATs and 32-37 on field goals.

The Wildcats took the opening kickoff and marched 80 yards seven plays with DJ Porter covering the final 14. Once he got the ball Porter stepped up, hesitated a split second to give his linemen time to make their blocks and then hit the hole and sprinted to the end untouched.

Porter also had a 33-yard run to highlight the drive which included a 14-yard run up the middle by quarterback Gunner Mobley. Morgan’s extra point made it 7-0 with 8:19 on the clock.

The Wildcats then stunned East Coweta with an onside kick which they recovered at the Indians' 49.

Following an illegal procedure penalty on first down Richmond Hill wasted no time in covering the distance, Mobley capping the seven-play drive with a 7-yard scoring run. After executing an excellent fake to Porter, the senior rolled around the left end to score easily. Morgan’s extra point attempt was wide left.

Following McWilliams’ long field goal, the rejuvenated Indians got a pair of touchdown passes by quarterback Jax Bowles to forge a 17-13 lead and it was game on.

Morgan cut the deficit to one, 17-16, when he kicked a 24-yard field goal with three seconds left in the first half.

Richmond Hill wasted no time in regaining the lead when it again surprised the Indians with an onside kick to start the second half. The Wildcats got the ball at the East Coweta and Porter capped it off with a 4-yard run for a 23-17 lead with 8:00 left in the third quarter.

Bowles hit Cason Ramey on a 9-yard scoring strike with 9:25 to play and when McWilliams kicked the extra point the Indians led 24-23. Bowles now has 13 touchdown passes and more than 1,300 yards passing.

Richmond Hill did not go quietly, getting the ball for the final time at its own 14 with 5:24 to play. The Wildcats patiently drove the ball to the Indians 11 only to see the field goal attempt go awry.

The Wildcats had an excellent night offensively as they rolled up 399 yards, 281 on the ground. Mobley completed 13 of 20 passes for 118 yards.

Porter finished with 127 yards and two touchdowns on only eight attempts, CJ Menzie added 93 and Mobley had 50 and a touchdown. Nick Cameron and Eli Grant had four catches each and Porter had three.

On the defensive side Layton Steigelman had nine tackles and a sack, Jaylon Deal had six tackles and Jaleal Bernard had five stops and two sacks.

The Wildcats will be idle this week. Their next game will be on Oct. 9 when they host Colquitt County in their Region 1-7A opener.