ROCKINGHAM — Three football players from Richmond Senior High School have been selected to a couple of postseason all-star games.
Tuesday was a busy day for the program, as seniors Jaiden Covington and J.D. Lampley were named to the 2021 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.
A couple of hours later, Lampley and senior Jaleak Gates were chosen to play in the Carolina Bowl Senior Showcase.
“All three of these young men have shown that they can play against top competition for several years now,” head coach Bryan Till said. “Jaleak and Jaiden are two-year starters and J.D. is a three-year starter who have all helped this team win three straight conference championships.
“It is great that with all the recognition that our team has gotten over the last four years since they started in the program that these young men are also getting the individual attention they have earned,” he continued. “Richmond has a tradition of producing great players and it is great for these guys to have their names right beside the guys who have come before them.”
For the second year in a row, the Shrine Bowl will not be played because of COVID-19. The Carolina Bowl was created as a result of the cancelation, and will give players a chance to showcase their skills.
Covington and Lampley join a storied list of former Raiders who were named to the Shrine Bowl, an all-star game played each winter between the top seniors from North and South Carolina.
The three most recent Shrine Bowl representatives were Caleb Hood (UNC) and C.J. Tillman (Campbell), who were selected in 2020, but did not play. Prior to them, current Columbia University running back Dante Miller was named in 2017.
“This is also something that our young guys can look up to and aspire to,” Till noted. “It is my hope that the young guys in our program start setting goals for these things now and work toward them so that we can keep building on the winning tradition here.”
Lampley (6-3, 285) was one of seven defensive linemen chosen, and Covington (6-3, 310) made the roster as one of 10 offensive linemen. Both attended the Shrine Bowl combine at Page High School on July 17.
Gates (6-2, 175) had a breakout senior season after moving from linebacker to cornerback, and will be one of five corners in the Carolina Bowl. All three Raiders were the only Sandhills Athletic Conference players selected to either game.
Jaiden Covington, left guard
Covington started his second season in a row at left guard on the offensive line, helping anchor a front five that allowed Richmond’s offense to claim its fourth-straight SAC championship.
“I was honestly kind of shocked when I saw that I made the (Shrine Bowl) roster,” Covington said. “I was invited to the practice in July and I didn’t think I’d make it.
“It was crazy to wrap my head around the fact that I was picked,” he continued. “As long as this school stands and football is played here, my name will be on that banner. Kids will see my name and hopefully be inspired like the way I was when I looked at the names before me.”
At left guard, Covington’s role was to help protect the blind side of senior quarterback Kellan Hood. The offensive line helped pave the way to Richmond’s offense scoring 40.5 points per game and an average of 360.8 offensive yards per game.
Covington’s blocking and pass protection allowed the passing game to collect 1,633 total passing yards (136.1 yards per game) and 2,696 total rushing yards (224.7 yards per game).
Working in the trenches, Covington and the other o-linemen opened scoring chances for 41 rushing touchdowns and 19 passing scores in 2021.
Richmond offensive line coach Kemp McSween has spent the last several seasons working with Covington, and noted that his presence along the line has afforded Richmond’s offense a lot of success.
“Jaiden is a big, physical and athletic guy who is a great pass protector,” McSween said. “And he is able to understand what we want to do offensively against any defense he’s seen over the last three seasons.
“Even as a sophomore, his problem was never understanding what to do,” he continued. “And over the years, Jaiden grew more confident in his role and the role the offensive line played for this offense.”
Jaleak Gates, cornerback
Moving from linebacker to the secondary in his final season, Gates was a crucial part in the turnover game this fall.
“My reaction to the news was I was pretty excited,” Gates explained. “And I figured they would pick me because I felt like I had a wonderful season.
“I will just play the game that I love and do what I love to do,” he added of playing in the Carolina Bowl.
This season, Gates had 23 total tackles (16 solo and 7 assists) in 12 games, including 1 tackle-for-loss against Lee County. He had a season-high 7 tackles against Butler in the second game of the season.
Gates led the Raider defense with 11 passes defended, and recorded two knockdowns in three different games. He finished third in the SAC with 3 interceptions, which came in three consecutive games down the final stretch.
Finding the end zone one time, Gates returned a fumble recovery for a score in the season opener at Mount Tabor. He also carried the ball one time, a 17-yard gain on a fake punt, in a win over conference foe Pinecrest.
Chris Campolieta, the Raiders’ defensive backs coach, has watched Gates grow as a football player since their days together at Hamlet Middle School.
“Gates is a very special player,” Campolieta said. “His length and speed really helps him dominate wide receivers. He has a natural ability to find the ball in tough situations. He is physical enough to play safety and outside backer, which he did for us as a 10th grader.
“Really, Gates is just scratching the surface of his ability,” he closed. “I truly believe if he chooses to, he could be a lockdown cornerback at the next level. He’s a knucklehead, but I love him and loved being his coach.”
J.D. Lampley, defensive end
An East Carolina University commit, Lampley was one of four future Pirates named to the Shrine Bowl.
“It means a lot to be named to both the Shrine Bowl and the Carolina Bowl,” Lampley said. “I was excited when I saw the rosters posted, and I’m glad to get the chance to play in one of them.
“Making the Shrine Bowl was on my personal list of goals we made at the beginning of the season,” he added. “I’m really looking forward to being around a bunch of high-level athletes and playing against good competition.”
In 12 games this season, Lampley finished with 57 total tackles (12th in the SAC). He led the conference in tackles-for-loss (22.0), quarterback hurries (16) and quarterback sacks (8.0).
Lampley tallied a game-high 7 tackles three times, had a season-high 3 sacks against South View and hurried the quarterback 4 times at Mount Tabor. Other stats include 4 pass deflections, 3 fumble recoveries (1 for a score), 1 forced fumble and 1 blocked punt.
On offense, Lampley also scored two rushing touchdowns as part of a special goal line package.
Spencer Shaw, Richmond’s defensive line coach, said Lampley’s selections to both bowl games were well earned.
“I’ve had the privilege of coaching a lot of talented, hard-working football players at several different positions,” Shaw explained. “I think the one thing that sets J.D. apart from most is his mindset. He doesn’t need anyone to tell him how good he is because he believes to his core that he is a top three defensive lineman in the state of North Carolina.
“In a modern football era played with a lot of finesse, he attacks the game with an old-school, rugged mentality,” he added. “He is a student of the game and a sponge when it comes to defensive line technique. It has been a pleasure to coach J.D. and watch him play with the intensity that the game of football deserves.”
Gates and Lampley will represent the North Carolina squad under the direction of head coach Brian Hales (Butler) in the Carolina Bowl on Sunday, Dec. 12. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. at Gaffney High School in Gaffney, S.C.
