ROCKINGHAM – The Richmond Senior High School varsity football team got back in the swing of things Tuesday off the first of two NCHSAA dead weeks with a 7-on-7 scrimmage against Chesterfield High School. But the Raiders were without one of their best offensive players –sort of.
Rising senior wide receiver Malik Stanback, who had a breakout season a year ago, announced publicly Saturday on his Twitter account that he will miss the entire 2018 season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his knee.
“My ACL is torn, but this isn’t bringing me down,” Stanback’s tweet read. “This is something that is going to make me a better football player and a better leader… This isn’t the last you will be hearing from Malik Stanback. Coming back stronger than ever, I promise that. #weworkforit.”
His injury occurred during a 7-on-7 scrimmage just before the dead period, when he snagged a pass from quarterback Caleb Hood against Marlboro County High School on Thursday, June 28. When he came back for the ball, he planted his foot and his knee subsequently popped, causing the injury.
The 6-1, 180-pound receiver would be entering his third full season with the varsity team. In 2017, Stanback emerged as the team’s go-to wide receiver, as he led the team in receptions (34) and receiving yards (751). He also led the Raiders in yards per reception among players with at least two catches (22.1) and led all receivers in yards per game (75.1).
His five touchdowns were second-best on the team, and his most explosive play of the year was an 86-yard catch and run down the left sideline in the final moments against Seventy-First High School on Oct. 27, 2017. His touchdown, coupled with a successful two-point conversion, led the Raiders past the Falcons 25-19. At season’s end, Stanback also earned his first career All-Sandhills Athletic Conference team selection.
Scheduled for surgery in the coming days, and despite not being able to suit up with his teammates on Friday nights this fall, Stanback is still a part of the team. And it’s his leadership that second-year head coach Bryan Till is expecting to remain constant throughout Stanback being sidelined.
“The great thing is that Malik hasn’t left — he’s still here,” Till said of Stanback. “And we expect him to still lead, especially being vocal with our younger guys.”
At Tuesday’s scrimmage, Stanback was all smiles as he followed around the offensive unit and assisted it by handing footballs to teammates while working on passing drills. His charismatic and positive attitude remained constant as well, cheering on the Raiders as they made big plays throughout the scrimmage.
With his absence on the field in the season that begins with its first game on August 17, Till, wide receivers coach Greg Williams and the rest of the Raiders will look to fill the gap left by Stanback as the team’s No. 1 receiver. And there are plenty of options.
“There is plenty of talent (in the wide receiving core), but there’s a lot of work to do,” Till said when asked what the plan of action will be. “Dalton Stroman (rising sophomore) has worked a lot this summer, so we’ll pull him up to the varsity level. Jakolbe Baldwin (rising sophomore) will be on varsity, and Preston Coker (rising senior) will help us a ton. Those three guys, along with Hakeim Blue and Armond Martin, will be counted on a lot.
“We’re really wanting to develop those young guys,” he added. “They’re going to be really special players. There’s talent, but we have an experience gap. Bobby Terry and Jordyn Wall (both rising seniors) are both guys who know the right things, how to act and how to carry themselves. They’ll help as a receivers and with leadership.”
Stanback has fielded interest from a plethora of schools, including programs such as The Citadel, East Carolina University, Old Dominion University, North Carolina A&T University and Wofford College. Till explained that while Stanback’s injury is unfortunate, it happened “early enough” in the season to where Stanback can rehabilitate ahead of college summer workouts and still end up receiving an official offer.
The scrimmage against the Chesterfield Rams Tuesday wasn’t the team’s best performance this summer, as the search for a 100 percent cohesive unit continues. A handful of interceptions by Hood, and one by backup quarterback Noah Altman, led to some miscues on offense. But it was the Raiders defense that showed up, grabbing a couple interceptions of its own.
“I like what I saw (from our receivers) before the break of July Fourth,” Williams said. “We had a lot of guys getting involved in the action, a lot of touches and making big plays for us. The unit as a whole will need to step up and fill (Stanback’s) void. And we’re going to get better day by day.
“The younger and older guys have to step up and they know that,” he continued. “Malik will be around, as he’s still a part of the program. And he’ll be a big help.”
Richmond will host another 7-on-7 scrimmage Thursday, as Chesterfield will return, along with Union Pines and West Bladen high schools joining the action. Things are scheduled to get underway at 10 a.m.
