WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Richmond Senior High School varsity football team took a road trip Friday to the campus of Wake Forest University to cap off it’s preseason schedule.
Playing at BB&T Field in the inaugural High School Football Kickoff jamboree that featured teams of all classifications from all across the state, the Raiders faced off against the East Forsyth High School Eagles (Kernersville, N.C.).
It was Richmond’s second live-action scrimmage of the summer, and its second in three nights. Under the format of the jamboree, with games starting and ending every hour, the Raiders and Eagles (4A, Central Piedmont Conference) played two regulation quarters of 100 percent football, complete with special teams.
The fast-tempo scrimmage saw only 10 total series between the two teams, as each squad got five chances on offense and defense. A low-scoring affair dominated by both defenses, the Eagles managed to use an early score on their second possession to squeeze by the Raiders by a final score of 7-0.
But all things considered, head coach Bryan Till saw the game as a major learning experience ahead of Week 1.
“They are a really good football team, and I think we went head-to-head with them tonight,” Till said of East Forsyth. “I think they’ll contend for a state title and they play in a really tough conference. The thing that hurt us was the field position on our first possession — we had a short field to work with.
“I’m really pleased with the effort of our defense and the way we played,” he continued. “On offense, the big thing was a lot of young guys had to get some maturity, and their eyes were wide open on the first two drives. But it’s amazing that they basically matured right in front of us in one night. I thought we acquitted ourselves well all night.”
Rising sophomore kicker Trevor Moss started the game with his first varsity kickoff to East Forsyth, and the Richmond defense made quick work of the Eagles. Thanks to a decent return, the Eagles started at their own 45-yard line, and got a first down on the second play of the game. But a pair of incomplete passes by East Forsyth’s Ty Lyles led to a punt.
An athletic play by two East Forsyth players downed the ball at the one-yard line to start Richmond’s first offensive drive, and the Raiders struggled early with a couple of infractions that backed them up nearly to the goal line. Rising junior running back Jaheim Covington gave Richmond some breathing room, but rising senior punter Kyle Goodwin was sent out for his first of three punts on the night.
After a poor kick gave the Eagles possession at the Richmond 32-yard line, Lyles and company wasted no time to punch the ball into the end zone for the night’s only score. After a holding call and a getting 15 yards back in the subsequent two plays, Lyles hit receiver Nick Childs for a five-yard touchdown pass. The point after was good, giving the Eagles a 7-0 lead with 6:13 remaining in the first quarter.
“We only had one blown coverage on the night,” Till said, alluding to the only touchdown play. “But it was a great opportunity for us to work inside the 10-yard line, as we only run one type of coverage there. In a couple of weeks from now, our kids will be able to run that coverage with experience. It was good for us to be able to work on that.”
Following another short three-and-out drive on their second offensive possession, the Raiders defense came up big to stunt a driving Eagles offense. East Forsyth was approaching midfield, but rising senior linebacker Jada Edwards dropped the ball carrier on second down for a one-yard loss. Rising junior cornerback D.J. Stephens followed up on the next play, as he broke up a deep ball down field to force an Eagles punt.
The Richmond offense wasn’t without its handful of opportunities to get on the scoreboard. After its second three-and-out on the night just as the second quarter started, a Goodwin punt was botched by East Forsyth, and rising senior Eric Burke flopped on top of the ball deep inside Eagles territory at the 31-yard line.
With momentum gaining in its favor, the Raider offense took over, but some troubles with penalties thwarted the drive. Backed up to the 35-yard line, a pass interference call on a Caleb Hood pass attempt to Jakolbe Baldwin put Richmond 15 yards closer to the end zone. A Hood keeper on third down set up a fourth-and-two scenario for Covington at the 13-yard line, but he wasn’t able to push ahead, resulting in a turnover on downs.
After forcing a punt in three plays thanks to a Javon Little sack on a dropped snap, Richmond got the ball back at its own 44-yard line and started its longest drive of the night. The 13-play drive saw the Raiders march into Eagles territory, as Hood made a completion to rising junior Justin Morman, and a handful of runs by Hood and rising junior tailback Lacyrus Ellerbe took the Raiders down to the nine-yard line.
But back-to-back incomplete passes to rising senior receivers Preston Coker and Bobby Terry in the end zone brought up fourth down, and a 26-yard field goal attempt for Moss. His kick sailed wide right after the snap was bobbled, causing Moss to double clutch. After the turnover on downs, the Eagles ran two plays before time expired.
“The (fast) tempo was atypical for a scrimmage,” Till noted. “I even said to the other coaches in the headset after the first play that we weren’t ready for the second play. But being able to realize that in a scrimmage is good to do so we can address it now. I wasn’t pleased with a 7-0 loss, but we only got to play two quarters. I’m happy with the way we handled the things we can’t simulate in practice, like running in a quick tempo.”
With the preseason over, it’s all business from here on out for the Raiders as they begin preparation for Week 1 against Ronald Reagan High School on Friday, Aug. 17. Kickoff for the home season opener is set for 7:30 p.m.
“We just got the film (of the East Forsyth scrimmage),” Till explained late Friday night. “We’ll grade our guys when we meet Sunday and put a game plan into action. We’ll get together a practice plan for the week — the guys are ready. Playing football is fun, and this will give us a week to prepare (for Reagan).”
