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RHHS falls just short to Brunswick
RHHS football
Richmond Hills Brian Hughes (12) cuts through the Brunswick defense Friday in Brunswick. The Wildcats lost 30-27. - photo by Photo by Bryan Browning

The Richmond Hill Wildcats face a tall task as they look to put their disappointing homecoming loss behind them.

The Wildcats will travel to Douglas on Friday to face Region 3-AAAAA co-leader Coffee in their final road game of the year. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

Richmond Hill’s hopes of a winning season ended with last Friday’s 30-27 loss to Brunswick at Wildcat Stadium. RHHS fell to 3-5 overall and 2-5 in the region.

Coffee (7-1, 5-1), ranked No. 7 in the latest Class AAAAA poll, had an open date on the schedule last week. The Trojans are in a three-way tie with Glynn Academy and South Effingham for first place in Region 3-AAAAA, and have beaten both of those teams head-to-head.

Richmond Hill took a 27-20 lead on Brunswick on a pair of long touchdown passes from Brian Hughes to Sam James, but the Pirates (2-6, 1-5) rallied to score the game’s final 10 points. The Wildcats’ potential tying field goal attempt fell short with less than a minute remaining in the game.

RHHS caught Brunswick off-guard with an onside kick to begin the game. The Wildcats recovered the ball, and Hughes ended the opening drive with a touchdown run.

Another big play on special teams resulted in Richmond Hill’s next touchdown. After the Pirates scored to pull within 7-6, Aaron Bedgood returned the ensuing kickoff 96 yards to the end zone.

Brunswick answered with two touchdowns to open a 20-13 lead, but the Wildcats tied the score late in the second quarter on the first of two Hughes-to-James touchdowns. Hughes threw a pass deep down the right sideline to James, who beat his defender one on one, caught the ball in stride and ran untouched for a 71-yard touchdown.

Hughes and James teamed up for a 39-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. Joseph Petrino tacked on the extra point to put RHHS up 27-20.

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