Augusta Christian (2-0) edged ARC (1-1) 20-18 on Friday, Aug. 27 at ARC Stadium. Nathaniel Willis kicked a 25-yard field goal with 1:04 remaining to secure the Lions’ victory.
The game started off slow, but with less than three minutes left in the first half, Augusta Christian struck. Bradford threw a 13-yard pass to Mikeal Sullivan for the first score of the game. Willis added the extra point for a 7-0 Lions’ lead.
It took Richmond Academy just four plays to answer. Quarterback Jack Murphy threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Maurice Freeman. Murphy missed the extra point, and the Lions held a 7-6 lead.
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Augusta Christian was driving into ARC territory when RaDeric Jones intercepted Bradford’s pass and returned it 58 yards. Two plays later, Murphy completed a 19-yard touchdown pass to Kellen McDuffie. Murphy again missed the extra point, but the Musketeers were able to keep a 12-7 lead into the half.
Augusta Christian trailed 18-7 late in the third quarter. Jontavis Curry, who led ARC with 108 yards on 21 carries, fumbled with 2:31 left in the third.
The Lions needed five plays to score, with Sullivan catching a 30-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jeb Bradford, a College of Charleston baseball commit. Zack Blackwell, who is being recruited by Charleston Southern football, ran for 150 yards on 23 carries and scored a 2-point conversion to cut the Musketeers’ lead to 18-15.
Four series later, the Lions took over at the ARC 42-yard line. Behind Blackwell, they drove into field goal position and executed it to win the game. Blackwell ran four times for 20 yards on the winning drive.
Willis, the Lions’ kicker, had a key punt midway through the fourth quarter. On the play, the ball was snapped over his head, he recovered, ran to his right 20 yards, and punted the ball to the ARC 15-yard line.
Augusta Christian will play at Cardinal Newman in Columbia County next Friday night. ARC has next week off and plays at Evans on Sept. 10.
Shelbie Summerlin is a Sports Contributor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at ssummerlin@augusta.edu
