ROCKINGHAM — A playoff victory drought will end for one of the two teams which will play under the lights Friday at Raider Stadium.
The much-anticipated start to the NCHSAA 4A East football state playoffs will feature the No. 4 Richmond Raiders and No. 29 Topsail High School Pirates.
While the Raiders have made the postseason year in and year out, they and first-year head coach Brad Denson are seeking the program’s first playoff victory since 2021.
Under former head coach Bryan Till, Richmond suffered first-round losses to Holly Springs High School (2022) and Leesville Road High School (2023) by combined scores of 63-33, including a shutout loss last year.
Topsail and head coach Jack Teachey’s program haven’t won a playoff game since 2011 and are making just their second playoff appearance since joining the 4A classification at the start of the latest realignment.
And Richmond hopes to keep that streak going for the Pirates.
Despite the large differential in the two teams’ seeding, Denson said much of that focus is pushed away in order to allow the coaching staff to properly prepare the Raiders.
Adamant about the “win or go home” mantra, Denson said the Raiders are excited for another chance to play in front of their home crowd in the playoffs for the first time in three years.
“As a staff, we don’t look too much into the seeding,” Denson explained. “It’s an opportunity to play another game against a quality opponent and it’s win or go home for us. We prepare for this game just like any other throughout the season.
“The staff works to put the best game plan possible together for these guys and make it as simple as possible. We want the guys to be able to play fast and physical, so the more of the thinking we can take off of them and put on us, the better. Our goal is to let these guys go and have fun.”
Richmond and Topsail have had two weeks to get ready for the postseason following the NCHSAA’s decision to extend the season a week to allow teams in western North Carolina time to complete their regular seasons.
Over that span of time, Richmond ran a bye week practice schedule the first week and shifted its regimen back to a game week schedule Monday after the final brackets came out.
The game plan for Friday?
“Plain and simple, the plan is to win,” Denson said. “We have to do what it takes to end the game with more points than them. That’s our goal and to find a way into round two. We have told our guys that special things happen this time of year, and the further you go, the more they happen.
“These players and our staff have worked extremely hard to get to this point, and now they get a home playoff game. It’s something that only a few of them have had in their careers. If we can win round one, we get a shot at another week.”
Last week, Denson spoke of the imperativeness of Richmond getting a chance to play at home, something he and the team believes will bolster a start through the early rounds of a hopeful state championship run.
Outside of Xs and Os, Denson pointed at one glaring x-factor full of cow bells and pom poms that he believes has the ability to help sway the game’s momentum.
“Raider Nation is absolutely the x-factor,” Denson said. “I hope fans can be there, be there early, and enjoy a little chill in the air as we’ve finally gotten some good football weather.
“It’s the playoffs and it’s the best show in Richmond County on Friday night. The fans make the atmosphere so much better and the guys feel the energy. They deserve it and they appreciate the support from the Raider faithful, so please be there and be loud.”
When Topsail visits Rockingham Friday, it brings with it a 4-5 overall record and a fifth-place mark in the 3A/4A Mideastern Conference standings. Sneaking in the postseason due to their RPI, the Pirates’ other four conference opponents that finished ahead of them made the playoffs, too.
Entering the postseason on a three-game losing streak, Topsail has averaged 26.1 points per game even against other formidable 4A opponents. Richmond is riding a seven-game winning streak and has scored 31.4 points per game on offense.
The two teams’ defenses are giving up 22.7 (Topsail) and 15.2 (Richmond) points per game.
Relying on the rushing game more often than the passing game, the Pirates have used four tailbacks with regularity — Matthew Hayes (591 yards, five touchdowns), Landen Cook (454 yards, five touchdowns), Damarion Smith (404 yards, four touchdowns) and quarterback Eli Hebron (416 yards, five touchdowns).
Hebron has managed to throw 11 touchdowns to his seven interceptions, while recording 864 passing yards on 45-of-118 (38.1%).
As an offensive unit, Denson expects Topsail to have several different approaches to try and get past the stingyt Raider defense.
“On offense, they have a little different scheme with some option type runs,” Denson elaborated. “This presents some issues if we are not disciplined in our assignments. Their QB can hurt us if we aren’t careful because he spins it around some, but it’s his legs that will get you.
“They also run some formations to try and make you pay and we must be alert of where certain guys are. With those formations, we have to know who is eligible and who isn’t, and if we don’t, they will hit big plays. If we can minimize those and get off the field on third down, those are the two big keys.”
When asked about Topsail’s defense, Denson said there aren’t too many moving components to it, but that it’s fast and physical and he expects a fight.
Leading tacklers on defense include Evan Batts (114 tackles), Walter Moore (86 tackles), Landon Lash (77 tackles) and Ryder Willcox (76 tackles).
Willcox’s 4.5 quarterback sacks lead the team and Hebron’s two interceptions on defense are a team-high.
“On defense, they are not very complex, but it’s usually those teams that are extremely sound and confident in what they do,” Denson noted. “That fits the mold for Topsail. They know their responsibilities and they do them well.
“Their linebackers, Nos. 8 (Willcox), 33 (Batts) and 44 (moore), all play downhill and bring a punch when they come. We had better be ready to play a physical game for sure. Their head coach is a veteran guy who has been in the college ranks as a defensive coordinator, so it will be a challenge and I know he will have them prepared.”
Kickoff is scheduled for Friday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased at the gate (cash) or online at GoFan.co.
Sports editor’s note: Deon Cranford contributed to this article.
