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WEEK 4 PIGSKIN ROUNDUP: Richmond Hill stuns New Hampstead in OT; Calvary avoids scare, runs away from Liberty County; Memorial Day scores first win, Johnson, Bryan County win again

By Travis Jaudon/For the Prep Sports Report | September 19, 2022

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Richmond Hill scored 10 points in the final 18 seconds of regulation to force overtime in a non-region game against New Hampstead on Friday, September 16 in Richmond Hill.

The Wildcats (3-2) scored a touchdown and a two-point conversion in overtime to win, 28-27, over the Phoenix (4-1).

Richmond Hill trailed 13-10 through three quarters and 20-10 with under 30 seconds left in the fourth. A touchdown for RHHS was followed up by a recovered onside kick and a Blake Williams 48 yard field goal to send the game into overtime at 20-20. A two-point conversion attempt in the extra session was the difference maker for head coach Matt LeZotte’s team.

For New Hampstead, the loss was the first of the season and nothing to cause panic as RHHS is in Class 7A, Georgia’s highest classification. The Phoenix will get a bye next week before beginning Region 3-4A play against Class 4A No. 7 Benedictine (2-2, 0-0) on September 30 at Pooler Stadium.

Senior receiver Ravon Grant hauled in 13 catches for 125 yards to lead the Cats and senior quarterback Ty Goldrick threw for 195 yards and three touchdowns on 21-of-28 passing.

Zion Gillard (26 carries, 122 yards, two touchdowns) and Caleb Easterling (six, 109, one) controlled the Richmond Hill running game. Gillard’s overtime rushing score was followed by his two-point rushing conversion to seal the deal for The Hill.

NHHS – 0 - 6 - 7 - 7 - 7 – 27

RHHS – 7 - 3 - 0 - 10 - 8 – 28

HALF: RHHS, 10-6.

RECORDS: NHHS 4-1; RHHS 3-2.

NEXT: NHHS vs Benedictine (9/30, Pooler Stadium); RHHS at Coffee County (9/23).

CALVARY DAY 48, LIBERTY COUNTY 27

HINESVILLE – The Cavs trailed 19-14 at halftime of the region 3-3A game, but they outscored the Panthers 34-8 in the second half to win going away.

Liberty trailed 14-7 in the second quarter but a long touchdown pass made it 14-13 (extra point no good) and a scoop-and-score touchdown on the following kickoff pushed the LC lead to 19-14 (two point conversion no good). Chase Lucas and Doopah Coleman each had rushing touchdowns in the first half for Calvary.

In the third quarter, the No. 3 ranked Cavs scored on rushing touchdowns from AJ Butts and Trevor Strowbridge and a passing touchdown from Jake Merklinger to Michael Smith. Calvary led handily, 34-19 entering the fourth.

Merklinger’s 96-yard touchdown pass to Coleman early in the fourth put the game away for good, but the Panthers got a kickoff return touchdown in the final quarter to put the score at 41-27. A second rushing score from Lucas gave the Cavs a 48-27 road victory.

On the season, the sophomore Coleman now has one rushing touchdown, one passing touchdown, one kick return touchdown and three receiving touchdowns. Merklinger has thrown for six touchdowns, Smith has caught two of them, and Butts has four rushing scores.

Calvary hosts undefeated Savannah Christian (4-0, 1-0) next week in a region 3-3A showdown of undefeated rivals.

CD – 0 - 14 - 20 - 14 – 48

LC – 0 - 19 - 0 - 8 – 27

HALF: LC, 19-14.

RECORDS: CD 3-0, 1-0; LC 2-2, 0-1.

NEXT: CD vs SCPS (9/23); LC at SCJ (9/23).

JOHNSON 35, BEACH 17

Johnson (3-1, 1-0) won its third straight game with this region 3-3A victory over Beach (0-4, 0-1) at Savannah High Stadium. The win came in comeback fashion for SCJ.

Beach led 10-0 early in the second quarter, but SCJ bounced back from there and eventually took a 20-10 lead into the halftime break.

Amarion Scott carried 18 times for 175 yards and two touchdowns for head coach Kenderrick Bonner’s team. It was Scott’s second straight 100+ yard rushing performance.

Malachi Bacon threw two touchdown passes — one to Samari Dowdy and one to Anthony Cooper. It was Dowdy’s third receiving touchdown of the season and Cooper’s first. Bacon, a sophomore, now has four throwing scores. The Johnson defense logged three interceptions, one each from Mikearee Stafford, Jayden Jones and Justin Pinckney, as well as a fumble recovery.

The Atomsmashers play host to Liberty County (2-2, 0-1) next week in a critical region matchup between a pair of teams likely to be battling each other for one (or two) of the region’s four playoff spots.

BRYAN COUNTY 28, PORTAL 24

PEMBROKE – Bryan County’s 3-1 record makes this team one of the best stories early on this season. The Redskins have won three straight, and the season’s lone loss has come 23-20 to a top-10 Lincoln County club in the season opener.

The Redskins have games against Telfair County and Montgomery County before beginning region play against a talented, tested Metter team.

POR – 0 - 8 - 8 - 8 – 24

BCO – 0 - 6 - 8 - 14 – 28

MEMORIAL DAY 45, NOTRE DAME ACADEMY 13

Junior quarterback Tyler Kindle threw for six touchdown passes and Julien Zamora caught four of them to help dominate the visitors from Duluth in the non-region win. It was the first career win for Memorial’s first-year head coach Javares Taylor.

Silas Brown and Jaylin Nabor were on the receiving end of the other two touchdown tosses from Kindle. Taylor’s team takes on Savannah rival St. Andrew’s in a non-region game this week on the island.

ND – 0 - 0 - 7 - 6 – 13

MD – 7 - 22 - 7 - 9 – 45

HALF: MD, 29-0.

RECORDS: ND 1-4; MD 1-2.

NEXT: MD at St. Andrew’s (9/23).

WEEK 4 FINAL SCORES

FRIDAY September 16, 2022

Richmond Hill 28, New Hampstead 27 (OT)

Carrollton 48, Jenkins 0

Brunswick  49, Islands 0 

Region 3-3A

Johnson 35, Beach 17

Calvary Day 47, Liberty County 26

Long County 62, Groves  6

Savannah Christian 45, Savannah Country Day 6

Bryan County 28, Portal 24

Cross Creek 32, Savannah High 8

Memorial Day 42, Notre Dame Academy 13

Bethesda wins by forfeit over the Cross Schools  

DON’T FORGET THE PREP SPORTS REPORT TICKER SEND US YOUR SCORES!

FOLLOW Travis Jaudon on Twitter/Instagram @JaudonSports. Email him at travisLjaudon@gmail.com.

Photo Credit:  Jason Dillon

Optim Orthopedics supports Benedictine Military School, Calvary Day School, Richmond Hill High School, Savannah Country Day, South Effingham High School, and St. Vincent's athletics. Benedictine Military School's team doctor is Dr. David Sedory. The team doctor for Calvary Day School, South Effingham, and Richmond Hill is Dr. David Palmer. Savannah Country Day and St. Vincent's team doctor is Dr. Thomas Alexander. Remember, Optim Orthopedics gets you back into the game!

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The "Coach" Karl DeMasi has been teaching and coaching for the past 35 years on all levels of academia and athletics. One of his hobbies has been writing, announcing and talking about sports. DeMasi has been involved in the Savannah Area sports scene since 1995, and he created the high school magazine "The Prep Sports Report" in 2000. In 2010, the "Coach" started broadcasting The Karl DeMasi Sports Report. He's still going strong, broadcasting on Facebook live and Twitter live every Saturday morning. You gotta love it!


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