In a wild offensive game, Benedictine of Savannah edged the Academy of Richmond County 52-49 on Sept. 25, handing the Musketeers their first loss of the season.
The Cadets controlled most of this tight prep football contest; however, the Musketeers (4-1) scored first on their initial drive, which began on their own 30-yard line. The Musketeers wasted no time testing out their new Astroturf field, driving down to the Cadets’ 17-yard line with hopes of scoring.
ARC handed the ball off to running back Vincent Carter for the host’s first score of the night. After kicker William Mohney drilled the extra point, the score was 7-0 with 8:16 left in the first quarter.
Benedictine started its first offensive push at its own 26-yard line, and Cadet quarterback Omari Burse tossed a 30-yard pass to wide receiver Cole Henderson, putting the visitors at the ARC 36-yard line. After another 30-yard bomb, this time caught by wide receiver Eron Mallard, Benedictine was now only six yards from a touchdown. Unfortunately, the Cadets (4-1) were unable to score and after a missed field were forced to return the ball to ARC.
After an ARC punt, the Cadets began their next drive at the Musketeer 40. They wasted no time capitalizing, as Mallard caught a 29-yard pass in the end zone for Benedictine’s first score of the night. After the PAT by kicker Parker DiTomasso, the score was 7-7 with 1:21 left in the first.
The Musketeers began the following drive on their own 7-yard line. They got an explosive play quickly, as wide receiver Carl Butler ran the ball 92 yards before being knocked out of bounds at the Cadet 1-yard line. Carter punched the ball in for another Musketeer touchdown. Another drilled extra point made the score 14-7 with ARC on top and 11:55 remaining in the second quarter.
The visitors took over at their own 45. The drive seemed to be a disaster after Benedictine’s pass was intercepted in the end zone, but a roughing-the-passer call saved the sequence. The flag also advanced the Cadets to the 1-yard line. A quick quarterback sneak, and Benedictine was back on the board. The PAT made the score 14-14 with 9:50 left in the half.
Carter responded with an 80-yard kickoff return, giving ARC the ball at the Cadet 20-yard line. A quick handoff to running back Jay’andre Brown and the Musketeers had another touchdown.
The PAT kick gave ARC a 21-14 lead with 7:16 remaining in the half.
The visitors started off the following drive at their own 34. After a 25-yard rush by Mallard, the Cadets were set up at the 5-yard line. Once again the ball was given to Mallard, who found the end zone for a four-yard touchdown. The PAT knocked through the uprights, and it was 21-21 with 4:03 left in the half.
ARC was unable to do anything on the next drive, and the Musketeers returned the ball back to the Cadets. Benedictine’s Omari Burse race for a 47-yard touchdown, and the PAT gave Benedictine a 28-21 advantage.
The Cadets weren’t done with big plays yet, as safety Ben Kleinpeter intercepted a Musketeer pass, and Burse threw a 25-yard touchdown to wide receiver Cole Henderson, putting the visitors up at halftime 35-21.
ARC started the second half hot after recovering an onside kick. Then quarterback Carson Hand tossed a 40-yard bomb to wide receiver Lo’than McBride. Hand then hit Butler for a five-yard TD, and ARC had climbed back within 35-28 with nine minutes remaining in the third.
Benedictine responded with a DiTomasso 32-yard field goal for 38-28 with 6:38 left in the third.
ARC started off the following drive at its own 35. On the first play of the drive, Hand threw a 75-yard passing touchdown to Chase Caldwell. The PAT kick was successful, and Benedictine’s lead dwindled to 38-35 with 6:36 remaining in the third.
Benedictine took over at its own 49. The Cadets wasted no time driving to the ARC 4-yard line. Running back Stanley Smart took a toss to the right and walked into the end zone. a DiTomasso made the extra point, and Benedictine’s lead climbed to 45-35 with 1:48 remaining in the third.
Believe it or not ARC threw another one-play touchdown. The 65-yard touchdown was caught once again by Caldwell. The PAT cut the Cadet lead to 45-42 at the end of the third quarter.
The home team then took the lead as ARC safety Henry Rivers intercepted a Cadet pass and ran it all the way to the visitors’ 4-yard line. Vincent Carter punched in a 4 yard rushing touchdown to finally take the lead. Richmond led 49-45 with 11:47 left to play.
But Benedictine was not to be denied on this wild night of offensive football. The Cadets got a nine-yard touchdown run by Smart for a 52-49 edge with only 5:00 left in the fourth.
The Musketeers failed to counter, giving Benedictine its fourth win of the season.
Benedictine will hope to continue its win streak on Oct. 2 at home against Evans, while ARC hopes to bounce back at Ware County.
William Reyes is an Augusta University student. Augusta Good News is an award-winning member of the Georgia Press Association, receiving a second place General Excellence in 2025 and 2026 Sign up for our free weekly newsletter here.
