Richmond Hill’s defense came through with a game-ending interception to secure a win for the second time in as many weeks Friday, downing Grovetown 14-13 on homecoming.
Brian Hughes made the interception with no time on the clock after Grovetown was given a final play when the Wildcats were flagged for roughing the passer as time expired.
“It was an ugly game,” Richmond Hill Coach Matt LeZotte said afterward. “Our guys were pretty upset at halftime, but that’s what we want. We want them to be upset when they play like that.”
The Warriors took a 13-0 lead into halftime after scoring on a 58-yard run with 5:19 left in the first half and a 74-yard fumble return two minutes later. Grovetown’s PAT on the second score hit the cross bar.
Richmond Hill started moving the ball better on offense late in the third quarter on a 15-yard pass from Kasey Green to Justin Jeffery and a 15-yard run by Maurice Smith. The Wildcats scored 14 seconds into the fourth quarter on third-and-eight from the Grovetown 20 on a pass to the right corner of the end zone from Green to Zach Lathrop.
The Wildcats got the ball back with just under four minutes left in the game and finally scored on a three-yard run by Maurice Smith with 36 seconds left. Joseph Petrino hit both extra points after missing a field goal attempt in the first half.
Petrino landed the ensuing kickoff at the one-yard line as Grovetown expected the ball to bounce into the end zone for a touchback. The Warriors ran the ball out to the 15 yard line and threw two incompletions before the Wildcats were called for roughing the passer as time expired.
The rules do not allow the game to end on a defensively penalty, so Grovetown was allowed one last play with no time on the clock. Hughes intercepted the ball and ran about five yards before sliding to the ground.
Hughes, who was originally slated to start at quarterback, did not dress for Richmond Hill’s first game but has excelled on defense the last two weeks. He and LeZotte embraced after the game as the rest of the team ran toward the locker room.
“I told him I loved him,” LeZotte said.
The Wildcats were limited to two days of practice outside this week due to the weather, which LeZotte attributed to the team’s sluggish start.
“It was a tough week of preparation but we always tell the guys to keep fighting,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if we’re in the weight room or conditioning or at practice, just keep fighting. The guy standing at the end will win.”
For the game, Green was 13-for-24 for 110 yards and one touchdown passing. Smith ran 14 times for 43 yards and one score while Kywann Green had eight tackles, including four behind the line of scrimmage.
Richmond Hill, 3-0, travels to Lakeside Evans next week. The Panthers are 0-3. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.
Bryan County drops first region game
Bryan County fell to 1-2 and 0-1 in Region 2-AA after a 41-7 loss at Toombs County.
“We got outplayed on both sides of the ball,” Redskins Coach Allen Cartwright said. “They were more physical than us.”
Quarterback Gage Hagan accounted for Bryan County’s only touchdown on a play that was set by a long run from Willie Lavant. The Redskins are still without Malik Bostick, who hurt his shoulder in last week’s 14-0 loss to McIntosh County Academy.
“He’ll be back in a week or two,” Cartwright said. “If not then certainly after the bye week.”
The Redskins travel to Swainsboro next week for a 7:30 p.m. game before hosting Benedictine at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 30. Bryan County is off Oct. 7.