ROCKINGHAM — The Richmond Raider football team has won every season-opening game dating back to 1986, and that streak will be tested Friday against Mount Tabor High School.
The Raiders will make the trip to the Spartans, who are the defending NCHSAA 3AA state champions, and the non-conference matchup is one of the most intriguing Week 1 games across the state.
According to HighSchoolOT’s preseason rankings for all classifications, the Raiders are the No. 4 team in the East, while Mount Tabor holds the No. 4 spot in the West. The Spartans made the move to 4A after this past year’s realignment.
Friday’s game will be just the third time the two programs have met, the previous two both coming in the postseason. Richmond defeated Mount Tabor in the 1998 playoffs, and again in overtime in 2004.
With the anticipation growing ahead kickoff, the Raiders and head coach Bryan Till have spent the week making adjustments following their scrimmage against Terry Sanford last Friday.
“The biggest adjustments we’ve made have been with personnel, especially after seeing a lot of guys play in different spots,” Till said. “We’ve been able to fine-tune some things and settle guys in.
“The goal has been to hone in on who will play what position and get them a lot of reps for Friday.”
Like with the start of any new season, Till said he expects the Raiders to come out with “nervous energy,” but hopes his team will channel it into making plays on the field against a talented group of Spartans.
The heightened excitement surrounding the first game of the year isn’t being ignored by the Raiders. But Till said for everything to go right under the lights, it all starts with one thing — preparation.
“If we approach Friday’s game any differently than we normally would, then we’re doing it wrong,” Till explained. “I listen to great coaches like Nick Saban and Dabo Swinney and their message is you’re not trying to beat a specific opponent. Instead, the preparation in how we do things is the focus no matter who we play.
“We want to emulate that, and ask ourselves if we did enough to prepare to win,” he added. “We can only control ourselves, and playing Mount Tabor helps us set that standard in Week 1.”
The Spartans are coached by Tiesuan Brown, who played for Mount Tabor in the 1998 regional final as a senior that saw Richmond advance and eventually win the 4A state championship. Current Richmond offensive coordinator Brad Denson was the Raiders’ quarterback that season.
Till noted Mount Tabor brings a spread offense dotted with playmakers, with several players who have the potential to play on both sides of the ball.
Describing the Trojans’ offense as “very multiple,” Till said they run a variety of sets including 3×1 and 2×2 receiver sets, and can effectively use their halfback and tight ends in the wishbone formation.
Seniors Lance Patterson and Noah Marshall are part of a solid backfield, combining for 10 rushing scores last season. Marshall had seven scores on 274 yards, while Patterson, who Till said “can do it all and score any time he touches the ball,” added three touchdowns and 326 yards.
Patterson is primarily used as a wide receiver and cornerback, and was named the MVP in last year’s state championship game. During his junior season he had a team-high 14 receptions for 256 yards and three scores.
Marshall also plays defense and recorded 56 tackles in 2020, which was third best on the team, and had two tackles for loss.
Dual threats on both lines that the Raiders will have to contend with include Deshawn Watson (6-3, 250 pounds) and Austin Pittman (6-3, 312 pounds).
Running a 4-2-5 defense, Mount Tabor “has really good team speed all over, and the back seven can run really well.” Till also noted that all the linebackers, especially the inside backers like Jayden Frazier, crash to the ball.
Semaj Reaves-Smith will be the Spartans’ starting quarterback, taking over after the departure of former senior Tyress Mcintyre.
“Spectators love games like this, so we know preparation is key,” Till said. “We have a tough four-game stretch at the beginning of the season, but right now it’s just Mount Tabor. This is the game we have to be able to play and win on Friday.”
In order to secure a win and start the 2021 campaign off on the right foot, Till said the Raiders need to have “really good execution” from whistle to whistle. Things he pointed to were good field position and not committing offsides, false start or late hit penalties.
“I want to see us control the game and execute plays when we need to,” he said. “We need to be able to do what we need to do, and it’s our will versus their will.
“Can we have that will to win against a really good opponent, that’s what we’re after,” he closed. “In games like this, it’s not always who wins, but it’s who doesn’t lose the game. We don’t want to blink first.”
Kickoff at Mount Tabor High School is set for 7 p.m. on Friday. Tickets for the game can be purchased here.
Follow the Richmond Observer on Twitter @ROSports_ for live in-game updates.
