ROCKINGHAM — Senior football player Javian Drake has been named the Official Richmond County Male Student-Athlete of the Week presented by HWY 55.
One of the few offensive constants the past few games for the Raiders, Drake has emerged as the go-to target when Richmond moves the ball through the air.
Making his return to the gridiron for the first time since his freshman year, this is Drake’s second career recognition. He was selected as a junior basketball player last winter.
Athletic Profile
Year: Senior
Fall Sport: Football
Position: Wide Receiver
Years on Varsity: 1 Year
Other Sports: Basketball, Baseball
“IN THE END ZONE” WITH JAVIAN DRAKE
While the Richmond Raider football team hasn’t been able to break into the win column through the first three weeks of the season, Drake’s effort as a wide receiver hasn’t gone unnoticed.
After taking two years off from playing football, Drake has proven to be a reliable asset for the Raiders’ triple option offense. Using his speed, toughness and catching ability, Drake currently leads the receiving corps in several categories.
He has team-highs in receptions (12), receiving yards (150), receiving yards per game (75) and touchdown receptions (2).
In Richmond’s best outing so far this fall, a 26-9 loss to Cardinal Gibbons High School last Friday, Drake hauled in a single-game career high seven receptions from sophomore quarterback Domonic Tillman.
Collecting 43 yards with those grabs, Drake’s biggest gain in the game was a 17-yard passing score from Tillman. Catching the ball at the 7-yard line, Drake broke out of several tackles before diving into the end zone.
That score made it a 9-8 lead for the Raiders with 4:04 left in the first half.
A game prior at Butler High School, Drake caught five passes and surpassed the century mark with 107 receiving yards, also a career and game-high. He is currently ranked as the No. 3 wideout in the Sandhills Athletic Conference.
The Raiders (0-3) will travel to Myers Park High School (0-3) on Friday in search of their first win. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
RAPID RESPONSE VIDEO WITH JAVIAN DRAKE
Drake joins The Richmond Observer to talk about his newfound success on the football field, Richmond’s upcoming battle with Myers Park and shares his plans for after high school.
The Richmond Observer will publish two more Official Richmond County Student-Athletes of the Week next week.