It’s been 69 years since Richmond Academy finished 9-2 and won the program’s second football championship in the state’s new highest division at the time: Class 3A.
Rossville and LaGrange had tied the state championship the previous season, in 1955, when the state was divided into four Classes – 2A, A, B and C – and the popularity of football was growing.
As it would many times more, the GHSA reclassified, and the new highest class took to its inaugural season in 1956.
Under head coach Harry Milligan, Richmond had previously won the Class 2A title in 1951, which was the state’s highest class at the time. But the Musketeers were entering the newly minted class having not won a title in five seasons and under the guidance of a new head coach – Frank Inman.
Richmond lost two regular season games during the inaugural Class 3A season, but none to in-state schools. It opened with a 26-0 victory against Aiken (SC) before losing to North Augusta (SC) 13-7. The Musketeers beat Glynn Academy 9-0 and opened Region 4-3A play against Athens 7-0 on Sept. 28. Against Commercial (Savannah) on October 5, Richmond won 14-2.
It then lost against Camden Military (SC) 13-7 on October 12. Richmond defeated Coffee County 35-6, Benedictine 15-6 and Savannah 8-0 before a 0-0 tie against Boys Catholic in the regular season finale.
Richmond Academy defeated Lanier 14-7 in the semifinals of the playoffs before upending Northside-Atlanta 13-7 to win the championship.
Inman coached at Richmond Academy until 1961 and never coached at another school. He finished with a 50-11-5 record in six seasons with one title, three semifinals appearances and four region championships.
Richmond Academy has not won a state title since but appeared in the semifinals in 1959, 1960, 1961 and 1962 with a finals loss in 1970.
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