RICHMOND HILL -- Effingham County outgained Richmond Hill in total yardage but suffered key mistakes in a 14-0 season-opening defeat to the host Wildcats on Friday night.

In the season opener, ECHS had numerous dropped passes and committed 11 penalties for 95 yards, but a bad snap in punt formation midway through the third quarter led to a 39-yard loss and set up Richmond Hill at the Rebels 13-yard line. Three plays later, Ravon Grant scored on an 11-yard run to break the scoreless deadlock.

Zion Gillard added a 4-yard TD run on the next possession, three minutes into the fourth quarter.

The Rebels had an edge in total yards 192-132 but never got closer to the end zone than the RHHS 26.

Ashley Thompson had four catches for 52 yards. Keion Wallace had two catches for 28 yards. Junior running back Jayden Evans carried 18 times for 72. Timmy Brown recovered two fumbles on defense.

ECHS will be back in action next Friday at Burke County.