ROCKINGHAM — A night of celebration, recognition and camaraderie closed out the final down of the 2023 Richmond Senior High School football season.
The Raider football program held its annual end-of-season awards banquet Thursday, which was directed by interim head coach Greg Williams.
Players of the junior varsity and varsity teams were joined by family members, coaches and community members to celebrate the academic and athletic accomplishments of the 2023 season.
Joining for the meal and awards were members of the Richmond County Board of Education, as well as personnel from the district’s central office, including superintendent Dr. Joe Ferrell.
Head principal Jim Butler and athletic director Mike Way also spoke to the audience and helped hand out awards.
Newly hired head coach Brad Denson, named earlier this week, was also in attendance. He won’t officially take over the program until mid-February.
Under former head coach Bryan Till, the varsity Raiders finished the season 5-6 overall, just the school’s third sub-.500 record since its inaugural season in 1972.
Finishing in second place in the Sandhills Athletic Conference with a 5-1 mark, the Raiders made the playoffs and lost in the first round for the second season in a row.
The JV Raiders and head coach Ryan Mercer went 2-7 overall and 2-4 in the SAC.
Prior to the awards portion of the banquet, each member of the junior varsity and varsity teams was called up to the front to be recognized for his efforts this past fall.
Academic Awards (Individual GPA)
This year, the top three (or four in the sophomore class) academic students for each class were asked to stand (in no particular order) and Butler announced the player with the highest grade point average.
Class of 2024: Camron Bowden, Jacoby Martin and Ryan Martin. Highest GPA — Jacoby Martin (4.38).
Class of 2025: Jordan Odom, Joe Parsons and Billy West. Highest GPA — Billy West (4.60).
Class of 2026: Jason Gainey, Evan Hodges, Keonta Pegues and Jacob Veach. Highest GPA — Jacob Veach (4.41).
Class of 2027: Tristan Chavis, Konner Gardner and Aryan Patel. Highest Average — Tristan Chavis (97%).
All-SAC Awards
The Raiders had 10 players named to the All-SAC team this year — five offensive and five defensive players. They were Javian Drake, Zach Gardner, Jaliel Green, Jayden Hamilton, Jamison Jones, Johnny Lunceford, Jacoby Martin, Gray Maultsby, K’Mauri Morgan and Joe Parsons.
Each player was called up to receive his certificate. Co-offensive coordinator Kemp McSween gave each player his certificate and Williams posed for a photo with all 10.
Parsons, who was tabbed the SAC’s Defensive Player of the Year, got an additional plaque.
Season Captains, Special Teams Award
At the end of each season, the players on the varsity team vote for four individuals who they feel best represent the title as season captain.
This year’s season captains were four seniors — Jamison Jones (DB), Javian Drake (WR), Jacoby Martin (DE) and Jaliel Green (RB).
The Raiders also recognize each year a player who contributed most on special teams. Points are given out each week based on all players’ performances and this season’s winner was junior defensive end Zach Gardner.
“I didn’t think I was going to get it,” Gardner smiled. “It’s definitely an honor. It shows that the coaches see the things that I do on special teams and the way I do it.
“I play punt, kick return and punt return, so I always think about what I do before it happens and look to see where everybody is going to be.”
William E. Eutsler Award
Named for the first athletic director at Richmond, the William E. Eutsler Award is given to a player who embodies the commitment, excellence, leadership and integrity required on and off the field. The coaching staff votes on the winner(s).
“Tonight I get to honor the recipients of this award, which is a longstanding tradition with Richmond Senior football,” Way said. “We look forward to it every year.”
This year, the program named two winners — one for offense and one for defense. Both seniors, the recipients were Johnny Lunceford (OL) and Marquan Martin (DB).
“It’s an honor to receive the Bill Eutsler Award,” Lunceford commented. “It shows that my coaches have faith in me to have integrity on and off the field.
“Playing football at Richmond has taught me a lot about responsibility. That was a really big part of playing here.”
“It means a lot to me,” Martin said. “It means I played my part this season and I did what I had to do. It lets me know that people also looked at me a certain way.
“My favorite part of being a Raider was just going in every day and enjoying the fun. I love my team, my coaches and the people in our county.”
Lettermen
The final awards of the night were given to players who received their first football letter.
“Earning a letter was based on whether or not players started, if they played meaningful minutes, the number of quarters played or being a senior,” Williams explained.
Earning their first letter as seniors were (by jersey number) — Darius Harris, Javian Drake, Nikeem Goodwin, David McNair, Lester Crawford, Jonathan Tyler, Camron Bowden, Devon Watkins, Ryan Martin, Braxton Jenks and Keyshawn Cole.
Junior players who earned their first letter were (by jersey number) — Jordan Bostick, Keidreion Crump, Zy Martin, Christopher Covington, AJ Covington, Tate Simpson, Lincoln Smith, Hayden Taylor and Nicholas Griggs.
Sophomore players who earned their first letter were (by jersey number) — Terande Spencer, Domonic Tillman, Evan Hodges, Amer Morrison, Daylyn Goodwin, Tyler McKenzie, Keonta Pegues, Jordan Hamilton, Demonte Martin and Timothy Sloan.
All senior players were also given a plaque commemorating their time with the program. Jacoby Martin closed the banquet by leading the program in the Law of the Raiders.
Below are photos from Thursday’s Raider football awards banquet taken by sports editor Kyle Pillar.
