LAURINBURG – The atmosphere inside Pate Stadium at Scotland High School during Friday night’s Sandhills Athletic Conference was the most hostel and raucous environment the Richmond Senior High School varsity football team has faced all season.
But its seasoned freshman quarterback remained unfazed under the mounting pressure to try and secure the SAC’s inaugural championship title, and Richmond’s first conference crown since 2010.
Though the game would end with Scotland winning its seventh straight conference championship in 69-47 fashion, Caleb Hood had himself a career night. The 5-10, 175-pound quarterback earned career highs in several offensive categories, including passing yards (423), passing attempts (46), completions (24) and passing touchdowns in a game (4).
Hood captained the offensive ship as the Raiders managed to put up the second-most total points against Scotland in the schools’ 51st meeting (Richmond scored 51 points in a 51-22 win in 1989). It was also the most points the Scots had allowed since their 48-14 loss to Jack Britt High School in 2008.
His 423 passing yards is not only Hood’s best single-game total in his young career, but it is also the second-most passing yards in a single game in Richmond’s storied history. His 24 completions also tied Tedarrius Wiley’s school record, which was set against Pinecrest High School in 2008.
In a game that was comparable to a tennis match with each team bouncing from one end of the field to the other to score, the 116 total points scored was the most all-time in the rivalry’s history, as well as the most combined points scored in Scotland’s team history. The second closest score between the neighboring county rivals was the 1989 matchup that saw 73 total points scored.
Hood connected with senior wide receiver Dashaun Wallce seven times for 131 yards and two touchdowns. Junior wideout Malik Stanback had his second consecutive 100-plus yard receiving game, as he reeled in seven catches for a game-high 154 yards and added one touchdown. Hood threw 11 passes for at least 20 yards, his longest on the night going for 36 yards to Stanback. Hood’s fourth touchdown went to senior tight end Gordon Pihl, his first of the season.
A week prior in Richmond’s 25-19 come-from-behind win against SAC opponent Seventy-First High School, Hood went 9-of-11 passing for 227 yards and two touchdowns. His 81.8 completion percentage was the second-highest in Richmond’s program history.
As the Raiders get set to start another week of practice to prepare for an opponent yet to be determined for the opening round of the North Carolina 4AA state playoffs, one thing is certain: their freshman quarterback is playing at a much higher level than his year suggests. And there’s a good chance that Hood will continue to be successful in the playoffs and over his next three years as a Raider.
Kyle Pillar and Deon Cranford contributed to this article. The RO will continue its playoff coverage with a preview of the Richmond playoff game by the middle of the week.
