We tell you everything you need to know about the 2022 Richmond Hill football team in this preview. We take a look at roster changes and what fans can expect from the team this season.
2021 Stats
- Overall Record: 4-6
- Points Scored: 189
- Points Against: 226
Key Losses
Head Coach Matt LeZotte leads his Richmond Hill Wildcats into Region 1-7A this season minus a few weapons from who graduated.
That group includes sparkplug Tommy Bliss, who did a little bit of everything for the Wildcats last season and throughout his career at Richmond Hill. In 2021, he had 56 tackles from his strong safety position. As a WR, Bliss averaged 13.2 yards per catch, and on special teams, he returned 12 kicks for 306 yards, including a 95-yard return for a TD. Bliss also blocked three punts and two field goal attempts last season alone.
Hayden McCullough also graduated, and his production from last season will be missed. The OLB/LS/WR had 18 catches for 272 yards and three TDs on offense, and on defense he had 44 tackles, including nine TFL, and three sacks. He also had a fumble recovery for a TD. RB Ryan Dekle also will be missed, as will his 699 career rushing yards and fourTDs as a Wildcat rusher.
Who’s Back
Richmond Hill and LeZotte welcome back several offensive playmakers, including their starting quarternack, Ty Goldrick, who will be a senior this year. He threw for 1,537 yards last season with 10 TDs, plus a rushing TD as well. He will have two returning receivers to throw to this year in Ravon Grant and Nick Bliss. Grant hauled in 57 receptions last season for 937 yards and six TDs, while Bliss was more of a possession receiver, finishing the season with 249 yards receiving and a couple of TDs.
The Wildcat offense will have workhorse RB Zion Gillard back, and since Coach LeZotte likes to establish the run, expect Gillard to get a ton of carries, just as he did last year. Gillard carried the rock 134 times for 644 yards and four TDs.
ATH Caleb Easterling is back and likely will be called on to do a number of things, just as he did last season, when he finished with two interceptions and five rushing TDs. Other returners are OL Thomas Zimbalatti, OLB/TE Andrew Matthews, DL Brian Ruland and Dontae Goodner.
What To Expect
With Richmond Hill making the jump to 1-7A this season, LeZotte says his program knew this was coming and havebeen trying to prepare for it.
“We have been trying to compete at a high level of competition for the last four years, which has allowed us to play some strong opponents,” said LeZotte. “We have previously matched up with Valdosta and Camden County, and we now look forward to competing against Lowndes and Colquitt this upcoming season.”
In regard to Richmond Hill’s strong opponents, LeZotte also mentioned that the players and the fans will get a new experience.
“It will be great for our players and fans to see what elite South Georgia football really looks like,” said LeZotte.
Regarding his expectations for the season, LeZotte said his team is young, but did a lot of growing up last season.
“A lot of those guys got a ton of experience last season as freshman, and though they’ll now be sophomores, we look forward to exposing them to an extremely professional brand of football that will need to be played in region 1-7A,” LeZotte said.
Prediction
Could be a bit of a break-in year for Richmond Hill, but LeZotte is a fine coach, and he’ll have the Wildcats ready. Look for them to surprise some folks: 6-4 overall record in 2022.
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