Richmond Hill’s special teams suffered several breakdowns which proved to be costly Friday night as the Wildcats dropped a 40-27 decision at Camden County in a Region 1-7A game.

The Wildcats had offensive numbers that would normally have called for a closer game but Camden County set the tone early when Sean Green returned a blocked field goal attempt 90 yards for a touchdown for a 7-0 lead which the homestanding Wildcats never relinquished.

Gunner Mobley completed 20 of 31 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns and added a 15-yard scoring run. CJ Menzie added 123 yards rushing for Richmond Hill but it wasn’t enough as the Wildcats (5-3, 0-2) dropped their third straight game.

Eli Grant caught six passes for 124 yards and Jaylon Deal had 12 tackles and Tre’shaun Grant added nine for a Wildcats defense that deserved a better fate.

Richmond Hill has region games remaining with Lowndes County (7-0, 1-0) who they play at 7 p.m. Friday at Wildcats Stadium and a season ending game at Valdosta (7-0, 1-0) on Nov. 6.

The Camden County offense scored two touchdowns but it didn’t cross the goal line until Jakavious Perkins scored on a 1-yard run with 12 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Perkins’ score put the Wildcats up 26-8 and although Richmond Hill scored 19 points in the final quarter the deficit was too much to overcome.

Senior kicker Jacob Vemilyer kicked four field goals, three in the second quarter, as the Richmond Hill defense stymied Camden County scoring threats in the early going. For Vermilyer it was a career night as he was 2-for-5 on field goals this season going into the game and had kicked one last year.

An indication of how the game was going to go came on the teams’ opening series.

Camden County took the opening kickoff and quickly drove from its own 25 to the Wildcats 11 where Richmond Hill took over on downs.

On second down Menzie broke loose for 64 yards to the Camden 20. When the drive stalled Cole Morgan was sent out to attempt a 37-yard field goal. It turned into a redo of an earlier 24-23 loss at East Coweta when Morgan had a potential game-winning field goal blocked on the last play of the game.

An unidentified player got a hand on the ball which went up in the air and Green, hauling it in like a centerfielder catching a lazy fly ball, caught the ball near the right sideline. He ran to his left and behind a wall of blockers streaked down the sideline unscathed.

The ensuing series proved to be a frustrating one for Richmond Hill.

Taking the kickoff with 6:32 on the clock the Wildcats, starting at their own 10-yard line, marched to the Camden County nine where they had a first down. After two running plays gained five yards then came a loss of four and a procedure penalty.

Facing a fourth-and-goal from the 12 Coach Matt LeZotte eschewed a field goal attempt and Mobley was unable to find an open receiver as the drive fizzled.

Camden County, taking over at the 12 then went 80 yards to the Richmond Hill 8-yard line where it had first and goal. However, a bad snap lost 19 yards and Vemilyea kicked a 39-yard field goal.

Vemilyea made it 13-0 with a 27-yard field goal with 27 seconds on the clock and when Richmond Hill was unable to handle the ensuing squib kick down the middle the Wildcats had the ball at the 36. Two completions set Vemilyea up for a 34-yard field goal at the buzzer to give his team a 16-0 lead at the half.

The lead was extended to 19-0 with 7:57 left in the third when the senior kicker connected from 25 yards out.

Richmond Hill finally broke into the scoring column with 3:58 on the clock when DJ Porter forced his way into the end zone from 1-yard out.

Camden County returned the kickoff 28 yards to its own 43 and scored in seven plays for a 26-8 bulge with 12 seconds left in the third quarter.

Richmond Hill answered by going 83 yards on only four plays with Mobley hitting a wide-open Case Jenkins from 22 yards out. Menzie opened the drive with a 43-yard run up the middle.

With 11:07 to play and trailing 26-14 the Wildcats still had hope but it was quickly dashed as special teams had another breakdown when William Smith took the kickoff 80 yards up the middle for a touchdown and a 33-14 lead.

Mobley got the Wildcats’ final score when he dashed 15-yards around left end with 7:31 to play but Camden County recovered the onside kick and went 49 yards on seven plays to salt it away.