VHS Outlasts ARC For Cameron’s First Win
On an almost perfect night for football, and a high school homecoming, the Vidalia Indians won a hard-fought battle over a talented and unbeaten Academy of Richmond County team.
Senior Myesha Hall was crowned as the school’s Homecoming Queen in halftime ceremonies by last year’s queen, Jariyah Williams.
The game was not decided until the last play, when ARC QB Jackson Murphy’s last second pass was intercepted by Kaylan Johnson, who sprinted down the sideline for Vidalia’s final touchdown in the 33-21 victory.
Interestingly, ARC wore the numbers 1783 emblazoned on their helmets. That was the year the school was opened, making it the oldest public school in Georgia and the fourth oldest in the United States.
After his team’s victory, Indian coach Jason Cameron said, “It feels great, I told the guys to stay bought in and that’s it’s just a process that’ll come sooner rather than later.”
“Richmond Academy is athletic at all pocontinued from page
sitions. They’re dynamic and can take it to the house at any time. We made the plays when we had to make plays.”
The Indian offense started out like they would run the Musketeers all the way back to Augusta.
The Indians' first score came less than 3 minutes after the opening kickoff, when QB Bryce Davis found Josh Mincey running free in the middle of the field near the goal line with a 23-yard TD pass. Tate McDaniel’s extra point made it 7-0 with 9:23 left in the first quarter.
ARC mounted a short drive and ground out a couple of first downs, unveiling several speedsters in their backfield and at receiver in the process; but the Indian defense stiffened in their own territory when Jordan Powell made one of those big plays to stop the Musketeers on a fourth and 4.
The Indian offense went right back to work scoring in only 4 plays when Jaedyn Stanley broke off tackle from the 4-yard line. McDaniel's PAT split the uprights to made it 14-0 with 5:52 still left in the first quarter.
ARC got right back in the game on their next two possessions, first scoring on a 51yard run by Jontavious Curry with 11:22 left in the second quarter.
Maurice Freeman, ARC’s second talented quarterback, scored with 4:31 left in the half to tie the game at 14-14.
The Indians mounted a drive that was cut short by a holding penalty, so McDaniel came in and drilled a 33-yard field goal with 1:27 left to give the Indians halftime lead of 17-14.
After the halftime festivities, Bryce Davis, who had 146 yards rushing on the night, sparked the Indian offense. Stanley ended the drive with his second score of the night on an 8-yard run with 8:45 left in the third quarter.
Another McDaniel field goal, this one from 34 yards out made it 27-14 with 4:56 left in the third quarter.
The explosive Musketeers answered almost immediately. On their second play after the kick, Murphy playfaked and the Indian secondary bit, leaving Freeman wide open for 52 yards and the TD that cut Vidalia’s lead to a precarious 6 points.
ARC drove twice into Indian territory where big defensive plays ended the threats. Thomas Godbee ended the first threat with two consecutive sacks of Murphy, which pushed the Musketeers from the Indian 16 all the way back out to the 46.
After getting the ball back, the Musketeers calmly drove into Vidalia territory again with less than 3 minutes left.
After forcing a fourth and 3, Jaelin Burns blew up a Musketeer play with a tremendous hit just when it looked like Rashaad Williams was breaking for the first down.
The Indians couldn’t run out the clock though as they failed to pick up the first down and ARC used their time outs. Bryce Davis responded with a beautiful punt that rolled dead at the Musketeer 3-yard line with a little over a minute left. The Musketeers were able to pick up one first down, but Murphy’s desperation throw under pressure was picked off by Johnson, who sprinted down the side line into the end zone as the clock ran out. Vidalia will be off next week and will travel to the “Badlands” in Tattnall County Warriors on October 16.
Vidalia’s Tom Godbee hauls down an ARC running back from behind for a loss of yardage with another VHS defender coming in to help in Vidalia’s 33-21 victory last Friday night at Buck Cravey Field.Photo by Mike Branch
