Home Local Sports Hamilton’s hat trick paces Raiders past Bucks

Hamilton’s hat trick paces Raiders past Bucks

Junior Jayden Hamilton (19) rounds the edge and begins his final race to the end zone on his punt return touchdown during Friday's win. (Kyle Pillar, sports editor)

ROCKINGHAM — A major contributor to the Richmond Senior High School football team’s growing success this season has been the gift of selflessness.

In each of the Raiders  now five victories this fall, seemingly a different group of players on both sides of the ball has stepped up to propel Richmond into the win column. 

Hosting Hoke County High School for its third Sandhills Athletic Conference game of the season Friday, Richmond relied on the dynamic playmaking of junior utility player Jayden Hamilton. 

The Raiders remained perfect in conference play behind a 44-20 victory, their third straight win by at least 24 points. The win also extended the team’s season-long winning streak to four games. 

Hamilton, a wide receiver and returner, had a first-half hat trick and scored three different ways — rushing, receiving and returning a punt. 

In addition to Hamilton’s big night, senior running back Javion Smith (rushing), junior wide receiver Keonta Pegues (receiving) and senior wideout Nicholas Griggs (receiving) each had one score. 

Junior quarterback Evan Hodges threw two of the three passing scores, while fellow junior Domonic Tillman had the other. 

A host of Raider defensive players limited dual-threat quarterback Brandon Saunders and helped provide the offense with solid starting field position.

Head coach Brad Denson shared it wasn’t Richmond’s best game of the season, but added he was proud of Richmond’s resiliency to get the victory.

VIDEO: Postgame interview with Jayden Hamilton and head coach Brad Denson.

An early hiccup on offense by Richmond led to Hoke County’s only lead of the game. On the first play from scrimmage at the Raiders’ 14-yard line, Hodges’ screen pass was tipped and intercepted and returned by Hoke County for a score. 

The point-after attempt was no good, but just nine seconds into the game, the Bucks led 6-0. 

Richmond would redeem itself on the next series, which began at the Raiders’ 32-yard line. Hodges built some confidence with a 19-yard completion to junior wide receiver Amer Morrison.

Three straight rushes by Smith, coupled with a face mask penalty, put Richmond at the Bucks’ eight-yard line. 

Smith took his fourth consecutive carry and found space to score on the next play. Senior kicker Billy West’s PAT was good to give Richmond a 7-6 lead with 9:49 to go in the first, a lead the Raiders wouldn’t surrender. 

VIDEO: Javion Smith rushing touchdown.

Junior linebacker Terande Spencer forced an incompletion, had a tackle-for-loss and made a stop on third-and-three on Hoke’s first possession, which forced a punt. 

Despite the quick turnaround, Richmond went three-and-out. The Bucks moved across midfield on the next drive and got to the 10-yard line. 

On first-and-goal, senior cornerback AJ Covington broke up a pass attempt. That was followed by an incompletion and pressure from senior linebacker Zy Martin to force an errant throw on third down. 

Going for it on fourth-and-goal from the 14-yard line, Saunders’ pass attempt in the end zone sailed long. 

Starting inside their own red zone, the Raiders started a nine-play, 86-yard scoring drive. Sophomore running back Chance Crowder carried the ball five times for 49 positive yards. 

Facing second-and-one at the Hoke County 26-yard line, Tillman connected on a 19-yard pass and run to Hamilton, who was just getting warmed up. 

As the clock rolled over to the second quarter, Hamilton finished the scoring march with a two-yard jet sweep to the right side, rushing inside the front pylon for the first of his three first-half touchdowns. 

West was good again on the PAT, extending Richmond’s lead to 14-6 with 10:09 to go in the second quarter. 

VIDEO: Jayden Hamilton rushing touchdown.

A three-and-out by Richmond’s defense on the ensuing drive, which featured a combined sack by Spencer and junior defensive end Jordan Hamilton, set up Jayden Hamilton’s next score. 

On the punt, Jayden Hamilton took it near midfield and weaved his way through his blockers to angle himself to the outside and to the left sideline. Getting blockers out front, he burned the coverage team and made the house call. 

Going for two points, Hodges threw a dart to senior Nicholas Griggs over the middle to make it a 22-6 with 7:24 to go in the half.

VIDEO: Jayden Hamilton punt return touchdown.

Following that score, West dribbled a bouncing onside kick attempt toward the Raiders’ bench. After initial contact with a Hoke County player, senior Covington made the recovery. 

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The special teams success didn’t pan out, as the Raiders turned it over on downs. 

VIDEO: Billy West, AJ Covington onside kick recovery.

A series later, Hoke County (1-6, 0-3 SAC) scored its second first-half touchdown. Saunders connected with Tycen Vick for a 64-yard passing score.

On the PAT attempt, a bad snap allowed Spencer to get into the backfield and make the stop, holding the score at 22-12. 

Jayden Hamilton completed his first-half hat trick on Richmond’s next offensive series. On third-and-three from the Richmond 43-yard line, Hodges made a short completion in the slot to Hamilton. 

Turning upfield, Hamilton shot to the left sideline and knocked one defender off of him before winning the foot race to the end zone and carrying two Bucks with him. 

West, who was nearly perfect on the night, had his PAT blocked. Richmond led 28-12 with 3:55 remaining in the half, a score that would hold until the whistle. 

VIDEO: Jayden Hamilton receiving touchdown from Evan Hodges.

Senior nose tackle Tate Simpson started the second half with a sack on Saunders on third down to make the Bucks’ first series a three-and-out. That set the tone for Richmond, which would add the rest of its points in the third quarter. 

A dandy of a punt by West after Richmond’s first series pinned Hoke County at its 12-yard line. Following a combined sack by Spencer and senior defensive end Zach Gardner, the defense found the scoreboard. 

On third-and-14 at the eight-yard line, juniors Monte Martin and Jermaine Bright penetrated the offensive line and tackled Saunders in the end zone for a safety. 

The two points put Richmond ahead 30-12 near the midway point of the stanza. 

VIDEO: Monte Martin, Jermaine Bright safety.

Getting the ball back on the kickoff, Richmond wasted no time adding to its lead. Just 58 seconds and two plays later, Tillman completed a pass on a go route to junior wide receiver Keonta Pegues. 

Adjusting to the ball, Pegues caught it at the six-yard line and trotted into the end zone to complete the 41-yard score. A West PAT moved the score to 37-12. 

VIDEO: Keonta Pegues receiving touchdown from Domonic Tillman.

Another three-and-out forced by Richmond’s defense on the next possession by the Bucks set up the final score for the home team.

Starting at the Hoke County 43-yard line, Hodges captained a three-play march to the end zone. Joining the scoring parade was Griggs, who hauled in a 25-yard score after catching a screen pass in the right flat and juking several defenders along the far sideline. 

One final kick between the uprights from West put Richmond ahead 44-12 with 2:21 left in the third quarter. 

VIDEO: Nicholas Griggs receiving touchdown from Evan Hodges.

Much of the fourth quarter for Richmond was played by second and third-string players on both sides of the ball. A lost fumble by Richmond gave the Bucks their final scoring drive. 

With 2:12 to play, tailback Darius Breeden scored on the ground. Saunders completed the two-point throw for the final points of the game. 

Getting the ball back, the Raiders ran out the clock and took a knee to ice the victory. 

VIDEO: Postgame interview with Javion Smith, Keonta Pegues and Nicholas Griggs.

VIDEO: Postgame interview with Terande Spencer, Joe Parsons, Chris Campolieta and Monte Martin.

Improving to 5-2 overall, and 3-0 against SAC opponents, Richmond will begin spirit week Monday in preparation for homecoming against Union Pines High School next Friday.

The Vikings (5-1, 2-0 SAC) defeated Scotland High School 37-23 Friday. When Union Pines visits Richmond, it will be the return of former head coach Bryan Till. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

The Richmond Observer will publish a photo gallery of Richmond’s home win over Hoke County this weekend.

Sports editor’s note: Official stats and game totals were not available at the time of publication. Deon Cranford provided the videos on the Richmond Observer Facebook page.