SOUTHERN PINES — Time and weather were non-factors for the Richmond Senior High School football team Thursday.
Playing a day earlier than originally scheduled with the addition of driving rains, the Raiders took care of business on the road at Pinecrest High School.
Scoring on offense and defense, Richmond was just under five minutes away from shutting out their Sandhills Athletic Conference rival, finishing the win with a final score of 36-7.
Leading 15-0 at the half, the Raiders scored on a Zach Gardner fumble recovery in the end zone and a 61-yard passing touchdown from Evan Hodges to Keyonta Davis.
Billy West added the first point-after attempt and then successfully converted a fake PAT on the ground following the second score.
Chance Crowder scored Richmond’s next two touchdowns, both on the ground. The first was a seven-yard rush, followed by a 45-yard burst.
Early in the fourth quarter, AJ Covington intercepted a pass and returned it approximately 40 yards to secure Richmond’s final visit to the end zone.
The Raiders’ only other defensive takeaway was a first-half pick by Keidreion Crump. Pinecrest (4-1, 0-1 SAC) scored a 16-yard touchdown pass within the game’s final five minutes.
Richmond (4-2, 2-0 SAC) will host Hoke County (1-4, 0-1 SAC) Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Below are photos of Thursday’s rivalry route over Pinecrest, taken by sports editor Kyle Pillar.