WEDDINGTON — A two-week break from competing in the Blazing 7-on-7 travel football league paid dividends for the Raider Elite 18U team this weekend.
Needing a couple of weekends off to heal from injuries and to hit the reset button, the Raiders split their two games on Sunday. Playing at Weddington Optimist Park, Richmond fell early to Mallard Creek High School, but rebounded with a big win over Myers Park High School.
Through eight games played in the fall development league, head coach Errol Hood and the Raiders are 4-4.
“We had taken a two-week break and it proved to be what we needed,” Hood said. “We got healthy and the guys came out ready to play.
“I think more of the guys’ focus was on Myers Park, but we were matched evenly with Mallard Creek,” he added. “Mallard Creek just made more plays than us. The biggest thing is that our guys had fun and our communication was better.”
Senior wide receivers Jakolbe Baldwin and Dalton Stroman were named the weekend’s co-MVPs after standout performances in both games.
Richmond lost its first game to Mallard Creek 50-36. Coach Hood said it was Mallard Creek’s first week in the league and that “little was known” about what the Mavericks would bring to the field.
Senior quarterback Caleb Hood threw five touchdowns in the loss, while junior wide receiver Kellan Hood caught two touchdowns and an extra point in the game. Stroman added a touchdown and an extra point, while sophomore defensive back Emerson Wall grabbed an interception on defense.
It was Richmond’s first time meeting Myers Park since the third round of the 4AA state playoffs last season, and the highly-anticipated game finished in a 54-47 win for the Raiders. The loss proved to be the first for Myers Park this fall.
On the first drive of the game, Caleb Hood threw a 30-yard fade to Stroman in the left corner of the end zone, one of Hood’s eight passing scores of the game. The Raider Elite offense wouldn’t be stopped, scoring on all of its possessions in the game.
Richmond’s second drive ended with a Caleb Hood touchdown pass to Kellan Hood, and senior linebacker C.J. Tillman added three points when he intercepted a pass on the ensuing Myers Park drive. That put the Raiders up 15-6.
Keeping pace was senior wide receiver Tremel Jones, who hauled in a long pass from Caleb Hood on the next drive to extend Richmond’s lead to 15 points. At the end of the first half, the Raiders held a 34-20 lead over the Mustangs.
Jones proved to be big for Richmond, catching three touchdown passes and adding a two-point conversion in the win. He also had two scores in the loss to Mallard Creek.
Like the first game, Stroman had a touchdown and an extra point in the win over Myers Park. Baldwin began his day with a touchdown and an extra point in the first game, but finished strong with three receiving scores and an extra point against the Mustangs.
“Our offense looked in sync all day,” Errol Hood said. “On defense our communication was key and the scores of the games don’t really tell the whole story. The guys had a totally different attitude and played well.”
The final weekend of the Blazing 7-on-7 league will be held Saturday, which will feature two pool games followed by a playoff tournament. A full schedule will be released on Wednesday.
