MAXTON, N.C. – The Richmond Raiders junior varsity football team will try to stay perfect Thursday when it opens up Sandhills Athletic Conference play against the Rams of Purnell Swett High School.
The junior football squad opened the year defeating Wake Forest High School 24-23 in overtime on the road, then beat Pine Forest handily 34-6 in its first home game of the year. It was the first loss Wake Forest had suffered since Oct. 3, 2013 against Millbrook High School.
Two weeks ago, the Raiders held on against perennial foe David W. Butler High School 6-0 to bring their win-loss record to 3-0 on the season. The lone scoring play came early in the first quarter on Richmond’s first possession. Sophomore quarterback Noah Altman connected with sophomore wide receiver DJ Stephens on a 25-yard pass.
Week four brought a bye week, and the team will look to continue its strong defensive play and opportunistic special teams. The Raiders will also look to pound the ball against Purnell Swett with a trio of running backs. Freshman CJ Tillman and sophomores LaCyruss Ellerbe and Tashawn Wall will try to push the Rams defense backwards behind a dominant offensive line. Although the quarterback, Altman is another runner who will look to make plays with his feet as he rushed in for a score against Pine Forest.
The Raiders will serve as the Rams’ first opponent Thursday, and kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m.
