AugBball does football: Richmond 28, Josey 27 (OT)

This is new, but now AugBball does football. I don't know how much football I'll "do." But I want to watch the basketball players I know compete in the fall, so Friday I watched two of my favorite basketball schools, Richmond and Josey, battle it out as the Musketeers pulled out an overtime win at home.

The hoopers figured prominently. Josey's sophomore quarterback Dakale Fluellen is a blast to watch. The sophomore rolled right and threw a dart of a first half touchdown pass to Kornell Clark. And he engineered a fourth quarter drive that eventually forced overtime, running for 6 and tossing a short pass for another 2 to tie things at 21.

A pair of area basketball standouts battled on the perimeter as Josey's senior wide receiver Dominique Hurst, whose combination of athleticism and toughness is unmatched on local courts, went one-on-one with Richmond's cornerback DT Stephens, a junior leader for the Musketeers roundball team. These duals were won high in the air as Fluellen repeatedly threw the long lobs. After Richmond's Stephens broke up two attempts, Hurst cashed in by outrunning everyone and everything except his QB's arm strength to close the second half Musketeer lead to 1 at 14-13. 

Hurst also made his presence known on defense with three tackles for losses playing defensive end.

Finally Keeven Ross, another member of Richmond basketball coach Steve Nobles's roster, snagged a timely first half interception to help keep the Eagles at bay.

Looking ahead to region play

I haven't made my future football coverage plans yet, but I think I know enough to be dangerous in previewing the parts of the local football scene that affects these Augusta rivals. While Richmond plays two more non region contests, Josey visits Westside next week. 

After obvious favorites Jefferson County (3-0) and Screven County (2-1), Josey (1-2) has as a better than even chance to finish region play, which hasn't started, ahead of its Augusta opponents Westside (1-2), Glenn Hills (1-2), and Butler (1-2). Arch rival Laney (0-3) might be more difficult. And even more challenging, of course, will be Screven County and Jefferson County. But there is a reason we play the games and a reason they all start 0-0.

In 4A region play, Richmond (2-1) also will face a pair of powers in Thomson (4-0) and Burke County (4-0). Cross Creek (3-1), Baldwin (2-1), and Hephzibah (0-4) round out that conference.