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Wildcats roll, Redskins fall
Bryan County football 0930 004
Bryan County quarterback Gage Hagan unleashes a pass during the Redskins' game against Benedictine Friday night. - photo by Ted O'Neil

Richmond Hill overcame more than just South Effingham in a 28-7 win at home Friday night to improve to 5-0 on the season.

Coach Matt LeZotte said at least a dozen players fell ill with a stomach virus before the game, forcing him to play third stringers at some positions.

“Our depth chart looked like a doodle pad,” LeZotte said. “But every player and every coach stepped up and did their job. It was the most unbelievable response to adversity I’ve ever been a part of.”

The Wildcats now have a bye week before starting Region 2-AAAAAA play against Bradwell Institute at home on Oct. 13. The game starts on 7 p.m. and is both military appreciation night and the WSAV Thursday Night Blitz game.

Richmond Hill and the Mustangs were tied 7-7 at halftime Friday, but the Wildcats put up 21 second-half points while its stifling defense held South Effingham scoreless.

Kasey Green was 14-for-20 with 286 yards and three touchdowns, including two to Justin Jeffery. Maurice Smith ran for 88 yards on 17 carries and scored once, while Sam James had five catches for 134 yards.

Will Huffstutler led the defense with 10 tackles.

“The bye week comes at the perfect time,” LeZotte said. “It will give us time to get everyone healthy and get solid on both sides of the ball.”

Benedictine 48, Bryan County 20

The Cadets, ranked No. 2 in AA, scored on their first five possessions to take a 35-0 lead in the first quarter at Bryan County. Benedictine extended its lead to 48-0 at the half, but did not score again.

“We certainly didn’t help our own cause with three turnovers,” Redskins Coach Allen Cartwright said. “We just didn’t have an answer for their offense and with a good team like that you can’t give them any help.”

Bryan County got on the board with five minutes left in the third quarter on a 55-yard run by Yadevern Eason on a fourth-and-10 play. Quarterback Gage Hagan then connected with Conner Schaffer and Bodi Dammerell for two fourth quarter passing scores.

The Redskins are the first team this season to score in double digits against Benedictine.

“We told the team at halftime to not worry about the score and just work on ourselves,” Cartwright said. “Our focus was on improving and we played a lot of kids the second half that will hopefully make us deeper down the road.”

Bryan County, now 2-3 overall and 1-2 in Region 2-AA, is off next week and plays at Metter at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 14.

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