ROCKINGHAM — The Richmond Raider football team didn’t get the outcome it wanted during Thursday’s season opener against Mount Tabor.
In what proved to be the largest margin of defeat in the program’s history, the Raiders lost 45-7.
The Spartans took a 21-0 lead into halftime, although the Raiders had three first-half drives inside the Mount Tabor 24-yard line.
Two of those drives entered the red zone, but Richmond couldn’t score. One drive stalled at the one-yard line and the other was another turnover on downs at the 15-yard line.
Senior safety Messiah Shaw collected the first of four defensive turnovers for the Raiders in the game, intercepting a third-down pass attempt by quarterback Semaj Reaves-Smith.
The Raiders shifted the momentum early in the third quarter when junior defensive end Jacoby Martin made a pick near midfield and raced down to the 10-yard line.
That turnover led to Richmond’s touchdown, a 4-yard toss from senior quarterback Emoni McBride to senior running back Taye Spencer. Ayden Mabe’s PAT made it 21-7 with 9:44 left in the third.
But two more touchdowns and a field goal by the Spartans before the end of the third quarter opened it back up.
Sophomore defensive ends A.J. Speach and Tate Simpson rounded out the turnovers by each grabbing a fumble recovery late in the fourth quarter.
Mount Tabor scored its final touchdown in the game’s final minute.
Up next for the Raiders (0-1) will be David W. Butler High School next Friday at home. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Raider Stadium.
For a full recap of Thursday’s game, and quotes from Till and Shaw, click here.
Below are photos of Thursday’s season-opening game between Richmond and Mount Tabor, taken by sports editor Kyle Pillar.
