Summoned to address Richmond Academy's postgame huddle Friday night, defensive coordinator Andrew Stewart feigned a look of concern.
As the Musketeers focused their eyes on him, Stewart exploded in a kind of Halloween shriek. The Musketeers were delighted, appropriately enough, after their biggest win of the season: 35-13 over Region 3-AAAA co-leader Hephzibah.
Mar-Quon Medlock shook off an ankle injury to throw touchdown passes to three receivers, as Richmond Academy rebounded from a deflating overtime loss to Cross Creek last week. It scored the first 14 points and never trailed in this one.
"Our kids felt bad about last week -- we took Cross Creek for granted," Richmond Academy coach Chris Hughes said. "We wanted to prove we were better than what we played last week."
Richmond Academy's win cleared up the region's playoff picture: Lakeside will get the top seed for the playoffs if it beats Josey next week, while Evans and Richmond Academy will play for the second seed and right to play host to a first-round game.
The Rebels (6-3, 6-2), without a Lakeside loss, cannot win the first region title in school history.
Medlock did not practice all week, choosing instead to soak his ankle in a whirlpool at the school. Richmond Academy's coaches got word he could play before the game and decided to limit him to only throwing. Medlock, who entered with more than 400 rushing yards on the season, did not attempt a run and was never sacked. He finished with 187 yards passing, with scoring tosses to Parnell Wilder, Jerry Lewis and Don Quarles.
"I'd say it worked out pretty good," Medlock said, smiling.
The game changed in a three-minute stretch late in the third quarter. Leading by just a point, Richmond Academy forced Hephzibah to punt inside its 30-yard line. The snap was bobbled, and the Musketeers took over 15 yards from the end zone. Jerrel Anderson scored four plays later. Hephzibah allowed the subsequent kickoff to hit the ground, and Richmond Academy recovered at Hephzibah's 20. After two penalties pushed the Musketeers backward, Quarles hauled in a 26-yard scoring pass.
"It was lost in that little swing right there," said Hephzibah coach John Bowen, as Richmond Academy players rang their victory bell behind him. "You're down 28-13 at that point and everyone knows you're throwing."
Richmond Academy (6-3, 6-2), which overcame 14 penalties for 100 yards, hadn't scored more than 20 points in their previous three games since producing 23, 38, 31 and 34 the first half of the season.
Hephzibah had two touchdowns called back for penalties and missed two field goals (37, 36 yards) before earning its first point.
Reach Matt Middleton at (706) 823-3425 or matt.middleton@augustachronicle.com.
RICH. ACAD. 35, HEPHZIBAH 13
PLAY OF THE GAME: Jerrel Anderson barreled over a defender on an 8-yard scoring run late in the third, the first TD of a 21-0 Richmond Academy spree to end the game.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Mar-Quon Medlock (ankle) didn't practice all week, yet threw for 187 yards and three touchdowns.
WHY RICHMOND ACADEMY WON: Balanced offense, a play-making defense that hounded the quarterback and perfect extra-point efforts from kicker David Cordaro .
WHY HEPHZIBAH LOST: It was sloppy on offense and gave the Musketeers a short field with two crucial third-quarter miscues.
NEXT: Cross Creek at Hephzibah; Evans at Richmond Academy, 7:30 p.m. Friday.
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Congrats and thank you ARC! (LHS parent). I truly hope to see in you the second seat after beating Evans next week!
"Lakeside will get the top seed for the playoffs if it beats Josey next week, while Evans and Richmond Academy will play for the second seed and right to play host to a first-round game." That should read Lakeside will be Region Champs if this is true: "The Rebels (6-3, 6-2), without a Lakeside loss, cannot win the first region title in school history."
Hey, hey, hey! I have been worried about ARC and curious about Medlock's status for awhile. Looks like Richmond has picked up some missing pieces along the way, thank goodness! Medlock, I love it when you run, but we'll take arm, heart, and NO SACKS. Way to go, team.
congrats ARC! I am so proud of you! Keep it up!!
finally a game yall cant say they gave US!!
thank you thank you thank thank you arc! go panthers!
Great job ARC. Your win will give Lakeside the region championship and we appreciate it. We have played you and Evans and I can tell you ARC has the better athletes. Play to your capability and you will be at home in the playoffs.
I am soooo proud of you ARC!!!!! Words cannot explain. You guys played one of the best games ever. We also want to mention that Mr. Christman is an awesome commentator and we miss him when we are at the "away" games.
Now I see what Glenn Hills fans meant when they said the officials cheat at ARC (Thats an understatement). While the Rebels offense was off on their game (offense coach- shame on you), ARC had some handy help from the officials. Who gets not one but two touch downs called back? Who allow ARC to make personal fouls all night, early starts, illegal hits, holding, face masks violations, etc. - all this went on and wasn't called. I believe the ref on the right side is blind because the ref on the left threw all the flags for plays that happened on the right side. Hummm???? And if that wasn't enough -the Ref had to keep conferring with one another once a flag was thrown. I did not know if I was at a football game or a daytona flag fest with all the yellow that hephzibah got. ARC has talent so let them win on that - dont cheat. This will not help them when they go on the road in the playoffs. Shame on the officials. Rebels are still going to do what they do - play ball. Let's get ready to Rebel to the playoffs.
Mother 7, I think both teams had their share of penalties. Don't be a sore loser from where I was sitting I saw a few penalties that weren't called on Hephzibah like a few times their were false starts that weren't called. Hephzibah underestimated ARC and they got whupped for that, GET OVER IT!!!!!!!!!
mother 7,, u are as bad as sore losers from GH.. lol, I know its tough but read the article and the box score.. ARC was penalized 14 times for over 100 yards,, thats twice as many times as Heph. The TD on the block punt that was called back as such a good call. it is illegal to hit a center during an extra point and was obvious to everyone in stands that number 40 went through the center to block it and run it back. Besides that one, Heph barely had any penallties all night long. Get over the fact that you got whipped good
I am not a sore loser - losing is part of the game. You lose some - you win some. I just beleive that the ref's were bias. ARC outplayed the Rebels, but the score would have been different if it wasn't for those refs. Yes, they probably still would have won, but not at such a large margin. I don't care what yall say. I have nephews that play for four different schools in the areas, Burke County, Glenn Hills, Evans Middle, and Cross Creek. My sons play for Hephzibah and Morgan Road. I support them all, but right is right. I was just expressing how I felt about the situation. Deal with it!!!
we had 105 yds worth of penalties i dont know what game you were looking at if we would have have half of those we would have scored 50 on you trust me. shame on the defensive co. not the offensive co. #4 was hurt and he is your special teams guy and #1 should have been thrown to more that's on the qb not the coach. next the defense is the strength of your team but you guys have not beat anyone on offense all year its been defense and special teams we won that phase of the game.....our big boys blocked and tackled but the defense was suspect all year no one exploited it like our qb did man to man all game blitz every down no safety in the middle of the field this high school not the pro's thats why you lost not the offensive co or the refs. excuses are not gonna get it done you say the refs hurting us for the playoffs going on the road shoot we might not be going on the road if we pull another so called shocker lol shocker lol you guys beat us 23-0 last year and we beat lakeside 30-0. but that was last year and all that matters is last game.
really? anytime arc wins a game agaisnt a worthy team its a fluke??penalties?!?! r u serious, penalties are jus adversity, good teams overcome adversity. jus like on the illegal reciever down field, ON A SCREEN (??????) which arc scored on. they got a 10 yd penalty. and the next play they scored...... OVERCOMING ADVERSITY
Good grief - did I hit a sore spot. I am sorry. Go Musketeers!!! I agree with 99ppurplepride to a certain extent. Thank you for clearing things up for me. Can you relay this information to Coach Bowen. He's not listening to us. The players only do what the coach tell them. My father and several others where screaming for the safety to come in, not just for this game but others. We've been shutting about offense. If the offense is effective - the rebels defense will not have to work as hard. Coach Bowen please listen, our boys only do what you tell them- try something different. They can adjust - they are talented. Good luck ARC with Evans - keep Richmond County on top. BOE get Hephzibah a weight room!!!!
I'm telling you guys if it were not not for 105 in penalties we would have scored 50 and we were not pulling the starters because there big boy's would have intimidated our young guys. Why can't we beat a quality team and people say dang they pretty good. It's hard here at ARC and as coaches the problems are dealt with as best we can there are problems that we deal with trying to keep kids focused that no other school has to deal with. Josey, Butler Harlem, and Westside have small teams and they do the best they can but one year of success over here (6-4) last season coming off a (0-10) season 2007. Before last season ARC won a total of 13 wins and 57 losses at a school that is rich in tradition. If you get the record books out ARC use to dominate this area and Laney so it's hard trying to get our kids to understand what they play for it's bigger than football and Friday night against the region leader we displayed what ARC football is all about. Your not suppose to like ARC because only fans, alumni, and bandwagoners are allowed to like us. We laid a few eggs this season and you all laid one Friday night plain and simple.
I am glad ARC have stepped up their game- so have Hephzibah. My son first year they only won 3 games. The year before I think they won only two. Last year they starting winning. They have steadily climbed. The rebels had to beat Lakeside to really get a decent storyline and get some much deserved respect. I agree that it is hard to keep young men focus. I thank God for football. It keeps my son occupied and off the streets. We've worked hard to boost the morale of our students and athletes. Do you know how hard it is to convince a 14 year old to keep playing on a losing team? Continue the good work at ARC and always support your young men, it will pay off. Perhaps we will see each other for a rematch at the DOME!!!! - The end!!!!