LAURINBURG — A pivotal second quarter that saw the Richmond Raiders score five touchdowns and record four turnovers helped the team to its fourth straight Sandhills Athletic Conference title on Friday.
Meeting rival Scotland High School for the first time in nearly two years, the Raiders scored all of their points in the first half en route to a 48-21 victory.
Senior quarterback Kellan Hood accounted for five total touchdowns — three passing and two rushing. Catching those scores were senior running back Nasir Crumpton and junior tailback Taye Spencer, who caught two.
Senior all-purpose player Cason Douglas added a rushing score, the first of seven straight scoring drives, and so did Crumpton later in the first half.
The game was played under a running clock for the entirety of the second half, the first time in the 54 meetings that the Raiders mercy-ruled the Fighting Scots.
Senior cornerback Jaleak Gates got the turnover parade started in the first quarter, intercepting a Carter Revelle pass and returning it inside the red zone, leading to a score.
Richmond had three fumble recoveries during the win, secured by senior defensive end J.D. Lampley, junior nose tackle Urijah McDonald and sophomore linebacker Marquan Martin.
Lampley also blocked a punt attempt in the second quarter, which was scooped up by Gates to give the Raiders another short field.
Richmond (9-1, 6-0 SAC) earned the No. 1 seed in the 4A East playoff bracket, which was finalized and released by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association around 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The Raiders will have home-field advantage throughout the 4A East playoffs, and will host No. 32 Jack Britt High School on Friday, Nov. 5.
Below are photos taken by sports editor Kyle Pillar of Richmond’s 48-21 win over Scotland on Friday.
