DILLON, S.C. — In a pre-season gridiron clash that featured a lot of green and gold, the Richmond Raider football team came out on top in its final tune-up for the new season.
Participating in the Jamboree of Champions at Dillon Memorial Stadium, the Raiders and West Florence High School kicked off the first of five scrimmages Friday.
In what was the second full-contact scrimmage in three days for Richmond, first-year head coach Brad Denson told the team to “go and get it” prior to the first series. And the Raiders did just that.
After surrendering an open-series touchdown to the Knights, Richmond settled in and finished the two-quarter scrimmage ahead 14-7 on the scoreboard. Both quarters were 10 minutes each.
Similar to its scrimmage against South Garner High School Tuesday, the Raider defense set the tone and the offense followed.
Richmond intercepted three passes, ending half of West Florence’s drives in a turnover. Grabbing one pick apiece were senior defensive backs AJ Covington and Keidreion Crump, along with senior linebacker Joe Parsons, the latter of whom also had a tipped pass to create an interception.
Junior quarterback Evan Hodges took all the snaps during Richmond’s five offensive drives. Fellow junior quarterback Domonic Tillman, who has been splitting reps with Hodges, was unavailable Friday due to illness, Denson explained.
Hodges finished the scrimmage with a pair of passing scores, first connecting with junior Amer Morrison and then with junior receiver Jayden Hamilton.
Facing fourth-and-13 from Richmond’s 19-yard line on its opening series, West Florence opted to go for it and scored on a pass to the back corner of the end zone. The point-after attempt was good.
A three-and-out followed on the Raiders’ first offensive series, but Covington made an interception near midfield on third down a couple plays later. His long return was called back after a block in the back penalty.
Covington’s pick, his second in two scrimmages this week, set up Richmond’s first score. Junior wide receiver Keonta Pegues appeared to score on a long catch-and-run from Hodges but a holding call backed the Raiders up.
Just three plays later on second-and-20, Hodges connected with Morrison in stride over a defensive back along the left sideline. Morrison picked up speed and outran a host of defenders to finish the 42-yard scamper for a score.
With 2:39 left in the first quarter, senior kicker Billy West split the uprights to tie the game 7-7.
Both teams went three-and-out on their next respective series. Junior linebacker Terande Spencer helped force a Knights punt with a quarterback pressure on third down to send an errant throw out of bounds.
As the second quarter started, Richmond’s rush defense limited West Florence’s ability to move the ball. Covington made a tackle-for-loss on the right edge, which led to junior nose tackle Monte Martin forcing a punt by dragging down a ball carrier on the next play.
A punt pinned Richmond at its own 16-yard line to start its next drive. Before the first snap, Denson apologized to the defense for making them have such a short break.
On a screen pass from Hodges to the right flat, Hamilton stepped over a defender before turning on the jets and going 84 yards to the house. Junior Jake Veach’s snap to Hodges was good as West tacked on the extra point with 5:19 to play.
Although the defense had a quick break, it didn’t waste time getting the ball back. Two plays into the Knights’ next series, Parsons got a hand on a pass over the middle to knock it high in the air.
Crashing in from the secondary was Crump, who intercepted the ball and tiptoed his way down the far sideline to West Florence’s 20-yard line.
With the clock winding, Richmond went into its hurry-up offense and worked through several situations. The Raiders faced a fourth-and-goal from the two-yard line but were stopped.
On the final play of the scrimmage, pressure up the middle from senior defensive end Zach Gardner forced another poorly-timed throw. Sliding underneath it was Parsons for the interception, who was celebrated by his teammates as the final whistle blew.
Now officially a week away from the start of the season, the Raiders will begin preparation for Week 1 and Seventy-First High School. Richmond kicks off next Friday on the road against the Falcons.
The Richmond Observer will publish its Raider football season preview in Monday’s edition, complete with interviews with over a dozen players and coaches.
The Richmond Observer will publish a photo gallery of Friday’s scrimmage against West Florence soon.
