WEDDINGTON, N.C. — Heading into the team’s second weekend of competition in the Blazing 7-on-7 fall football league, coach Errol Hood said he wanted to iron out some communication issues.
The Raider Elite 18U team did just that, as Hood’s crew earned a pair of wins after splitting last weekend’s opening series. Playing at Weddington Optimist Park on Saturday, the Raider Elite defeated Team Makaveli (a travel team from Winston-Salem) and Mint Hill Mafia (Independence High School).
Senior wide receiver Tremel Jones was named the league’s Most Valuable Player after he accounted for a total of five receiving touchdowns and two extra-point catches.
“We were on fire, putting up 109 points in two games,” Hood said of the performances. “Offensively, we can play with anyone. Caleb’s (Hood) passes were on point and Jakolbe (Baldwin) and Dalton (Stroman) had some amazing Randy Moss type catches. Kellan (Hood) and Tremel had an amazing day also.
“Defensively, we improved as well,” Hood added, noting that was the area that needed the most attention. “We are still trying to work out the communication kinks. I didn’t have the attitude problems that I had last week. The guys all bought into what I was coaching.”
Against Team Makaveli, the Raider Elite held on for a 39-34 win. Senior quarterback Caleb Hood connected for five total touchdowns and Coach Hood noted his accuracy while also calling his own plays.
Senior wideouts Jakolbe Baldwin and Dalton Stroman each caught one touchdown and Stroman also hauled in two extra points. Jones started his day with two receiving touchdowns and an extra point, while Kellan Hood helped with an extra point.
Senior linebacker C.J. Tillman snagged an interception for three points, his second pick in as many weeks for the Raider Elite.
Coach Hood said the opposing offense scored most of its points in the first half after he benched three of his starting defenders for missing practice. The Raider Elite defense allowed only one touchdown in the second half.
The second game of the afternoon was a different story, as Richmond waxed Independence’s travel team 70-26.
Caleb Hood doubled his touchdown performance from game one, finding the end zone 10 times to six different receivers. Jones led the Raiders with three receiving scores and an extra point.
Baldwin and Kellan Hood added to the offensive outbreak with two touchdown catches apiece. Stroman contributed a touchdown and two extra points, while senior receiver Jarod Morrison joined the scoring mix and accounted for a score.
Tillman added his team-leading third interception of the fall league in the win, and also went out as a wide receiver and caught a Caleb Hood pass for a touchdown. Coach Hood named Tillman the team’s “defensive player of the game.”
Richmond’s coach also said his defense was able to shut down Mint Hill Mafia’s offense by “using a man-to-man press style defense.”
The Raider Elite 18U team will return to action with two more games in Weddington this Saturday. The official schedule will be released on Wednesday.
Coach Errol Hood contributed stats for this article. The Raider Elite 15U team did not play this weekend.
