ROCKINGHAM — Friday’s regular-season finale ended in heartbreak for the Richmond Senior High School football team.
Despite holding a second-half lead, the Raiders suffered a 22-21 loss to rival Scotland High School.
The Fighting Scots scored the game-winning touchdown reception by Cadyn Graves with 1:49 left on the clock.
Going for the two-point conversion, Graves tossed the pass to quarterback Carter Revelle on a trick play to ice the win.
Richmond trailed 7-0 early in the second quarter, but a reverse to senior wide receiver Jamarion Bryant resulted in a 23-yard touchdown play to tie it up.
The Raiders’ next score would come on its opening drive of the third quarter, again down by seven points. Senior running back Taye Spencer capped a 13-play, 75-yard drive with a one-yard rushing score.
Forcing a punt on the next drive, Richmond took just four plays to go 77 yards and take a one-possession lead. Senior quarterback Emoni McBride scored the Raiders’ third rushing touchdown of the game with a 37-yard scamper.
Sophomore kicker Billy West tacked on the extra point to make it a 21-14 lead with 3:23 left in the third.
Head coach Bryan Till said the Raiders “had chances,” including a final drive that went down into Scots’ territory. But an interception on 4th-and-21 turned the ball over with less than a minute to play.
Finishing the season in a tie for second place with Scotland in the Sandhills Athletic Conference standings, the Raiders ended the season with a 5-5 overall record and a 4-2 mark in SAC play.
Richmond qualified for the NCHSAA 4A East state playoffs. The Richmond Observer will publish an article soon.
For a full recap of Friday’s rivalry matchup, click here.
Below are photos of Friday’s conference game between Richmond and Scotland, taken by sports editor Kyle Pillar.
