Now there’s enough football in the books to start learning a little something about these teams. Benedictine did something a Savannah team hadn’t done in 26 years. Richmond Hill had to win one late. Calvary Day keeps rolling, South Effingham is 3-0, and Beach got the weekend started with a big Thursday night.
So that’s where Prep Sports Report starts this week.
What did we learn Friday night?
BIGGEST WEEK 3 STORIES
Benedictine 27, Camden County 23
What did we learn Friday night? Benedictine has answered that Week 1 loss pretty well.
The Cadets gave up 58 points to Toombs County in the opener. Since then, they’ve beaten defending state champion Hebron Christian and a Camden County team that came into Memorial Stadium 2-0.
There’s some history with this one, too. The last Savannah team to beat Camden County was Benedictine, 9-7 on Sept. 29, 2000. Twenty-six years later, the Cadets did it again.
Purdue-bound senior Eron Mallard rushed for 163 yards on nine carries, including an 87-yard touchdown, and added 63 receiving yards. Stanley Smart Jr. added 143 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. Put those two together and Benedictine got 306 rushing yards on 19 carries.
Three weeks into the season, the Cadets are 2-1. That Week 1 loss looks a little different today.
Richmond Hill 31, Jenkins 27
What did we learn Friday night? Richmond Hill can find a way, and Jenkins is better than that 0-3 record might look.
Jenkins came in banged up after playing a tough nonregion schedule, but the Warriors gave Richmond Hill everything it wanted. Tasean Rhodes returned kickoffs 75 and 99 yards for touchdowns and added a 5-yard touchdown run.
Richmond Hill still had an answer. Gunner Mobley found Nick Cameron for an 11-yard touchdown with 1:07 remaining to put the Wildcats back on top. Mobley finished with 176 yards and three touchdown passes; Eli Grant had 138 receiving yards and two touchdowns, and CJ Menzie rushed for 127 yards.
Richmond Hill is 3-0. Jenkins is 0-3. But Friday night was a good reminder that at times the records don't tell the whole story.
Calvary Day 44, St. Pius X 0
What did we learn Friday night? Calvary Day has plenty of ways to beat you.
James Mobley IV completed 16 of 18 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns. Zay Middleton rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown on only six carries, while Ca’Den Jones added 74 yards and two scores on seven carries.
The offense gets plenty of attention, but don't overlook what happened on the other side of the football. Calvary's defense didn't allow a point.
The Cavaliers are 3-0 and have scored 123 points in three games. Now comes a road trip to North Carolina and another unbeaten team.
South Effingham 28, Windsor Forest 13
What did we learn Friday night? It's time to pay attention to South Effingham.
This was one of the games Prep Sports Report circled before Friday night. Both teams came in 2-0, and South Effingham walked out of Savannah High Stadium as the one still unbeaten.
Khyran White scored twice on the ground, Semaj Calhoun returned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown, and the Mustangs picked off two passes. Windsor Forest quarterback Jayden Martin threw for 219 yards and two touchdowns, but South Effingham did enough to slow down an offense that had been playing well.
Three games into the season, South Effingham is 3-0. People should be paying attention now.
Beach 40, Groves 0
What did we learn Thursday night? Beach used that week off pretty well.
The Bulldogs lost their opener to Windsor Forest in overtime and then had a week off. They came back against Groves and didn't waste much time getting things going.
Senior Jordan Newton rushed for 115 yards on nine carries, with touchdown runs of 53 and 44 yards, and also caught a 23-yard touchdown pass. Beach's defense was just as impressive. James Johnson had two interceptions, Jordan Brito added another, and Groves finished with only 75 yards of total offense and two first downs.
Beach is 1-1. That's a good way to get that first win.
PLAYERS AND NUMBERS
There were plenty of numbers from Week 3, but there’s no reason to read every one of them. These are the ones that jumped off the page.
Start at Benedictine. Eron Mallard had 163 rushing yards on nine carries, an 87-yard touchdown, and another 63 yards receiving. That's 226 yards from scrimmage. Stanley Smart Jr. added 143 rushing yards on only 10 carries. Together, Mallard and Smart rushed for 306 yards on 19 carries.
Richmond Hill had plenty of numbers worth mentioning. CJ Menzie carried it 26 times for 127 yards and a touchdown, while Eli Grant had 138 receiving yards and two touchdowns and also picked off a pass on defense. On the other side of the ball, Layton Steigelman finished with 14 tackles, and Jaleal Barnard had two sacks and two tackles for loss.
Jenkins' Tasean Rhodes had kickoff returns of 75 and 99 yards for touchdowns and added a 5-yard touchdown run—three touchdowns against an unbeaten Richmond Hill team.
Liberty County's Noel Best rushed for 165 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries as the Panthers picked up their first win.
Calvary quarterback James Mobley IV completed 16 of 18 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns, while teammate Zay Middleton needed only six carries to rush for 115 yards and a touchdown.
Beach senior Jordan Newton rushed for 115 yards on nine carries and scored three touchdowns. And one defensive number deserves some love.
Windsor Forest quarterback Jayden Martin threw for 219 yards and two touchdowns against South Effingham.
Savannah Christian's Ivyn Richardson recorded 16 tackles against Glynn Academy.
The Effingham County Rebels defense finished with eight sacks and held New Hampstead to six total yards.
Those are the Week 3 numbers that got Prep Sports Report's attention.
HALFTIME SCOREBOARD
Week 3 Final Scores
Beach 40, Groves 0
Richmond Hill 31, Jenkins 27
Valdosta 56, Bradwell Institute 13
Effingham County 37, New Hampstead 0
South Effingham 28, Windsor Forest 13
Benedictine 27, Camden County 23
Liberty County 43, Johnson 19
Islands 14, Bryan County 7
Calvary Day 44, St. Pius X 0
Glynn Academy 45, Savannah Christian 28
Appling County 49, Savannah High 0
Athens Academy 7, Savannah Country Day 6
Academic Magnet 47, St. Andrew's 7
WEEK 4 SCHEDULE
Thursday, Sept. 10
Hardeeville at St. Andrew's (1-2), 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 11
Richmond Hill (3-0) at Ware County (1-1)
McIntosh County Academy (2-1) at Liberty County (1-2)
Harris County (2-1) at New Hampstead (0-3) (Pooler Stadium)
Long County (0-2) at Beach (1-1) (Groves Stadium)
Calvary Day (3-0) at Ambassador Christian (3-0) (N.C.)
Savannah High (0-3) at Tattnall County (0-2)
Fellowship Christian (1-1) at Savannah Christian (1-2) (Paulson Stadium, Georgia Southern)
Trinity Collegiate (1-1) at Bethesda (3-0)
Savannah Country Day (0-4) at Porter-Gaud (2-1)
PREP SPORTS REPORT TAKE
Three weeks into the season, here's the PSR take. Give these teams a little time before deciding exactly who they are.
Benedictine is a good example. The Cadets gave up 58 points in the opener against Toombs County, and naturally there were questions after that one. Two weeks later, they've beaten defending state champion Hebron Christian and a Camden County team that came into Memorial Stadium undefeated.
And remember, Camden hadn't lost to a Savannah team since Benedictine beat the Wildcats 9-7 back in 2000. The same program that had everybody asking questions after Week 1 just ended that streak.
The PSR has been around high school football long enough to know these are kids. They get better. Coaches make adjustments. Teams find out what works and what doesn't. Sometimes a team has a bad Friday night.
Three weeks don't tell us everything, either. But they tell us a whole lot more than one. That's my take. Give me a few Friday nights before making up my mind about a football team.
THREE WEEK 4 GAMES THAT HAVE THE PSR ATTENTION
Richmond Hill at Ware County
Richmond Hill is 3-0, but the Wildcats have gotten there in different ways. They survived a one-point opener against Effingham County, rolled past Liberty County, and then needed a late touchdown to get by Jenkins.
Now Richmond Hill gets on the bus for Ware County. Road game, 3-0 record, and another chance to find out a little more about these Wildcats. That's enough to get the PSR's attention.
Calvary Day at Ambassador Christian (NC)
This one doesn't need much selling. Two 3-0 football teams. Two different states.
Calvary has scored 123 points through three games and is coming off a 44-0 win over St. Pius X. Now the Cavaliers head to North Carolina to face an Ambassador Christian team that's getting plenty of attention of its own.
The Lions are ranked No. 3 in the NCISAA Private School 11 Man Top 5, behind only Providence Day and Cannon School.
So Calvary isn't just crossing the state line to play another unbeaten team. The Cavaliers are getting a ranked North Carolina opponent on the road.
That's one the PSR will be watching.
Fellowship Christian at Savannah Christian
This one gets the PSR's attention for a different reason. Savannah Christian won its opener but has dropped two straight against Bethesda and Glynn Academy.
Now the Raiders get Fellowship Christian at Paulson Stadium on the campus of Georgia Southern. It's Week 4, and Savannah Christian has a chance to get things headed back in the right direction before region play gets going.
Keep an eye on this one.
OPTIM ORTHOPEDICS
Optim Orthopedics presents Prep Sports Report's 2026 high school football coverage.
Every Friday night, local athletes put in the work and get a chance to represent their schools and communities. Optim Orthopedics is there to help keep Savannah-area athletes healthy and ready to get back in the game.
Optim Orthopedics wants you in the game.
Prep Sports Report appreciates Optim Orthopedics for supporting local athletes and our high school football coverage throughout the season.
Team physicians include Dr. Don Aaron (Bryan County), Dr. David Sedory (Benedictine, Bradwell Institute, Liberty County), Dr. David Palmer (Calvary Day, Richmond Hill, South Effingham), and Dr. Thomas Alexander (Savannah Country Day, St. Vincent’s Academy).
THE FINAL WHISTLE
Three weeks are in the books, so here's this week's Final Whistle question.
Which Savannah area football team has changed your mind the most through the first three weeks?
It doesn't have to be the best team. Benedictine may look different after the last two Friday nights. Maybe South Effingham, sitting at 3-0, has your attention. Maybe there's another team that nobody is talking about enough.
Put your team in the comments and tell me why. That's what makes high school football fun. Everybody sees something a little different on Friday night.
And if Savannah area high school sports are your thing, subscribe to Prep Sports Report and follow Savannah Sports Report. Local teams, local coaches, and local athletes. That's what we're here to cover.
The PSR is already looking ahead to Thursday night. Can’t get here soon enough for some more high school football.
Sources & Editor’s Note
Game results and statistics were compiled from area coaches and schools, team statistics, and reports from the Savannah Morning News, Coastal Courier, Effingham Herald, MaxPreps, Georgia High School Football Daily and Prep Sports Report.
Statistics can vary between team books and reporting services. Prep Sports Report gives preference to statistics supplied directly by coaches and schools when available.
Photos courtesy of proshot_sports_
Follow Prep Sports Report on X @PrepSav and Instagram @savannahsportsreport.
To share scores, story ideas, or corrections, email kdemasi@prepsportsreport.com or text 912.507.9158.
