RICHMOND HILL, GA -- The Richmond Hill Middle School Wildcats football team hosted the Coastal Empire Region Championship where they defeated Southeast Bulloch on Wednesday.

In dominating fashion, the Wildcats knocked off the Yellow Jackets 30-8 to cruise to the title.

For the 2021 season, the Wildcats finished 7-1, capping it off with the championship trophy led by head coach Jamie Bennett.

"It's been a good and long season," Bennett said as he reflected on the triumphant year for his team. "In the very beginning of the year we were stressing out to the max about COVID. And at one point we had about half of our players out with either COVID or quarantine, meaning they couldn't be at practice. So, we were kind of freaking out about that. These group of kids are the most first-time football players that we were able to find in the school and talk them into playing football. They bought in and became good football players in their first year. Basketball guys, soccer players, track guys, we're just bringing them all in and coaching them up. All that work they did. Coaches just point them in the right direction."

Eighth grade starting quarterback Melik McLaughlin played his final game in middle school in the region crown win over Southeast Bulloch.

"It was a long season and we worked hard," McLaughlin said following his last middle school game. "It took a lot of practices and a lot of yelling. We were just going through a lot. But it was fun. I love these guys. It was just always fun to come out here with them and play for Coach Bennett. We had a fun road."