With both teams going into Friday’s game at 4-4, the Academy of Richmond County Musketeers and the Hephzibah Rebels played a hard-fought game, but it was the Rebels who came away with a 32-17 victory.
This was a game that both teams wanted to win, and this was evident with how both teams fought on both sides of the ball.
In the first half, the Hephzibah Rebels (5-4) jumped out to a 18-14 lead, with quarterback Jalen Patrick scoring touchdowns both through the air and on the ground.
The first score of the game came when Hephzibah’s Telly Johnson, who plays both running back and middle linebacker, ran for a 16-yard touchdown with 8:03 left in the first quarter to make the score 6-0.
The Musketeers (4-5) would then answer with touchdown pass from Jack Murphy to Malcom Cochrane. Jefferson Murray would make the extra point attempt to give them a 7-6 lead.
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Murphy would also show off his own running ability, scoring on a 5-yard touchdown run in the redzone with 7:49 left in the second quarter, and Murray would again make the extra point.
The Rebels showed how valiant they are, as Patrick responded to the onslaught from the Musketeers by throwing a deep shot downfield to Saadiq Pasha, resulting in a 49-yard touchdown. They were unsuccessful on a 2-point conversion, making the score 14-12 in favor of the Academy of Richmond County.
A blocked punt by Hephzibah resulted in the Rebels getting the ball in great field position, and they would cash in by scoring on an 18-yard touchdown run by Patrick. After another failed 2-point conversion, the Rebels lead 18-14 with 4:51 left in the second quarter.
After the half, the Rebels tried to mount a comeback. The got the ball in the rebels’ territory, but were unable to score a touchdown, settling for a 39-yard field goal by Murray to make the score 18-17.
The Musketeers would get the ball back and attempt to score, but a key fumble recovery by Hephzibah’s Jaden Law would give the Rebels great field position at the Musketeers’ 40-yard line.
Johnson would capitalize and widen the lead for Hephzibah by scoring on 7-yard touchdown run in a drive where he 30 yards rushing.
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He would also score on the 2-point conversion, and the score was 26-17 in favor of the Rebels.
Johnson then shut the door on this game by scoring on an explosive 49-yard touchdown run to make the score 32-17 with 5:14 remaining in the game.
With the Musketeers looking to score on final touchdown in the final minutes of the game, the Rebels’ Johnson would come up with a big sack on backup quarterback Brooks Dickinson to seal the game for the Rebels and cap off his impressive game.
The Hephzibah Rebels will next play at home against Cross Creek High School on Friday, Nov. 4.
The next game for the Academy of Richmond County will be on Friday, Nov. 4 on the road against Salem High School.
Aaron Smith is a sports correspondent for The Augusta Press.
