MATTHEWS, N.C. – For the third consecutive week to start the 2017 season, the Richmond Senior High School junior varsity football team walked away with a win Thursday night on the road at non-conference opponent David W. Butler High School.
In a low scoring affair, the Raiders (3-0) hung on to win 6-0, shutting out the Bulldogs (0-1), all the while scoring a season-low six points. Last week, Richmond held Pine Forest to just six points, and in week one, completed arguably the biggest upset in program history by snapping Wake Forest’s nearly four-year long winning streak in overtime, 23-22.
Junior varsity head coach Patrick Hope, who is in his first full year at the helm of the program, noted his players had to battle a lot of “external forces” in order to get the win tonight.
“We always tell our guys to focus on the next play,” Hope said. “They need to control what they are able to control. And we wanted to see how they handled adversity, which was positive after seeing them hold onto a small lead.”
The lone scoring play came early in the game on Richmond’s first possession. Sophomore quarterback Noah Altman, who had a rushing touchdown last week against Pine Forest, connected with sophomore wide receiver DJ Stephens on a 25-yard strike.
The Raiders defense had to step up big in order to maintain the shallow six-point lead. Hope said his defense played well and “forced a lot of negative plays,” while also “applying a lot of pressure” on Butler’s quarterback.
“I’m proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish thus far in the season,” Hope said. “These first three wins will catapult us into Sandhills Athletic Conference play in two weeks.”
Thursday’s win against the Bulldogs is Richmond’s third and final non-conference matchup of the year. The JV team will have a bye week next week, before opening Sandhills Athletic Conference play at Purnell Swett High School on Thursday, September 21, 2017. Looking to remain undefeated on the season, the Raiders will serve as the Rams’ first opponent. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m.
