ROCKINGHAM — A second-half comeback attempt by the Richmond junior varsity football team came up short in Thursday’s season opener.
Following a slow first quarter on both sides of the ball, the JV Raiders fell to visiting Mount Tabor High School 30-14.
Head coach Patrick Hope said the team’s progression throughout the game got better, but it’ll be a building process this year with a new group of players.
“We’re dealing with a lot of young players, some of whom haven’t played in two years,” Hope explained. “Getting them back into the flow of the game and what it takes to win at this level is the biggest lesson we learned tonight.
“It’s a matter of getting our feet up under us,” he added. “Playing with the really hot conditions made it tough and that’s something we’ll have to get used to because it’ll be like that for the next couple of weeks.”
Mount Tabor took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, scoring twice and converting on one two-point conversion.
With 9:15 remaining in the second stanza, the Spartans struck again, this time a touchdown pass inside the red zone. Following a successful two-point play, Mount Tabor led 22-0.
Two drives later, the Richmond offense worked the ball down the field. Starting at their own 20-yard line, the Raiders quickly moved into the red zone following a series of tough runs by sophomore running back Jaliel Green and freshman tailback Jordan Bostick.
Facing first-and-goal from the seven-yard line, Richmond failed to get in the end zone and turned the ball over on downs at the Spartans’ two-yard line. The JV Raiders entered the half down 22-0.
Following a Richmond punt to start the second half, Mount Tabor fumbled the ball on a rushing play on its second play from scrimmage. Sophomore defensive lineman Keshawn Cole fell on the loose ball to give the Raiders possession at the Spartans’ 17-yard line.
Sophomore Keshawn Cole (90) scoops up a fumble during the third quarter. (Kyle Pillar/The Richmond Observer)
That turnover sparked a four-play scoring drive for Richmond. Freshman quarterback Dillon Veach opened with a five-yard toss to sophomore receiver Linden Garcia.
Following a sack, Bostick ran the ball for an 11-yard gain on third down to make it first-and-goal at the four. On the next play, Bostick plunged through an opening up the middle for the score.
Freshman Billy West tacked on the PAT and Richmond trailed 22-7 with 5:29 left in the third quarter.
“We needed a break, something to go in our favor,” Hope said of Cole’s fumble recovery. “The guys were a little more physical up front, and this was the first time we’ve really gone live and tackled someone to the ground.”
Three plays into Mount Tabor’s next drive, freshman Bobby Little made a hard hit on the running back to pop the ball loose. Little collected his own forced fumble to give Richmond the ball back at the Spartans’ 40-yard line with 3:31 left in the third.
The drive stalled, and after a West punt, Mount Tabor added to its lead with a 76-yard catch and run down the left sideline as time expired in the third. A two-point conversion put the visitors up 30-7.
Richmond followed with an 11-play drive that ended in a turnover on downs at the opponent’s 25-yard line.
Freshman Bobby Little (23) trots off the field after forcing a fumble in Thursday’s loss. (Kyle Pillar/The Richmond Observer)
The JV Raiders’ defense held Mount Tabor to a punt on its next drive deep in its own end, and a botched snap resulted in a tackle at the five-yard line to set up Richmond’s final score.
With 20 seconds left in the game, Veach rolled to his left and lobbed a touchdown pass to sophomore receiver Tristian Wall in the front corner of the end zone. West was true again on the PAT for the final point of the game.
Hope noted that despite the loss, the JV Raiders were able to “develop mental toughness” moving forward.
“When we know what we’re doing in all three phases, we’re a pretty good football team,” Hope closed. “Billy West got better at punting the ball, Jordan Bostick ran with really good vision and Jaliel Green came in and helped him.
“The offensive line improved tremendously, and the receivers learned how to block and make plays in the passing game. Defensively, when (Mount Tabor) lined up, we figured out we could make plays. There needs to be a lot more of that, especially Monday through Wednesday.”
The JV Raiders (0-1) will begin preparing for David W. Butler High School, which will be another home non-conference game next Thursday at 6 p.m.
