If a couple of "close by" college teams, that happen to prefer to run the option offense, have any interest in Richmond Hill quarterback Dominique Allen, as head coach Lyman Guy has intimated they do, then Allen might want to save some of Friday nights game highlights for their future reference.
Allen and his Richmond Hill (2-0) teammates put on an "option" attack clinic against the visiting Savannah High School (0-2) Blue Jackets en route to a 46-12 win. Allen who ran the first two plays from scrimmage broke the second for nearly 50 yards and the games first score. He followed that with another running TD and added four scores through the air.
Except for the first and last offensive plays of the game the Wildcat defense played shutout football as well.
After Allen's early score and a kickoff, the Blue Jackets started their first possession on the nine yard line. Tail back Barron Smith found a seam on the next play and outran the Wildcat defense down the home sideline for a 91 yard score. The extra point failed and the Blue Jackets would not come close again until the game's final play, a Jovante Spivey pass to Kevin Freeman at the buzzer. In between it was all Richmond Hill.
Playing from behind the pass happy Blue Jackets were frustrated all night by the Wildcat defensive backfield. Ethan Bowling, J.J. Franklin, Matt Rodriguez and Kyle Greening had numerous pass breakups and near interceptions as the Blue Jackets tried desperately to get back in a game that got away in a hurry. In spite of the lopsided win coach Guy was guarded in his assessment of the outcome.
"We still have a long way to go to be able to compete with teams like Jenkins and South Effingham" claimed Guy on the prospects of facing their next two opponents. Richmond Hill only had one turnover, a fumble, but had several drives interrupted by penalties. Still, even the most subdued of Richmond Hill fans had to be pleased with the performance.
Allen answered quickly after the Blue Jackets' first score by finding Hank Ferendo open near the Wildcat side line and then the Richmond Hill wide out twisted through one missed tackle on his way to a 60 yard score. After a bad punt snap the Wildcats took over on downs a few seconds later and Allen ran for another score from eight yards out. Cannon Rooker kicked the extra point and while fans were still filing into the stadium at 10:20 of the first quarter the score was already 20-6. The Wildcats continued spreading the wealth.
Slotback Alex Cruz scampered for a 10 yard score later in the second period and then hooked up with Allen on a 43-yard pass play for another just before the half to make it 33-6. T.J. Franklin had a frustrating first half as he and Allen could not quite connect on several throws for big yardage. Their patience was rewarded in the second.
Franklin made a nice catch on a tipped ball early in the third quarter and then out maneuvered the rest of the defense for a 48 yard scoring play. Allen, operating in the red zone, found Franklin again later in the quarter in the end zone, Rooker added his fourth extra point kick on the night to close out Richmond Hill's scoring.
Jenkins will visit Richmond Hill on Friday night.