ROCKINGHAM — With the turn of the page from non-conference to Sandhills Athletic Conference play this week, the Richmond Raider football team’s focus remains the same.
One game at a time.
Richmond and head coach Brad Denson’s quest to clinch the first SAC regular-season title since 2021 begins Friday with a road trip to Southern Lee High School.
Emerging from a tough non-conference slate with a 2-2 record, the program’s best run through the first four games of the season in three years, the Raiders aren’t looking too far ahead to the end goal they hope to achieve.
“The way we go about our preparation and practice will not change,” Denson explained. “We prepare each week the same way and our goal is to win that day and in turn win that week. So the way we go about our business is the same.”
On the table this week are the Southern Lee Cavaliers, who are 2-1 through their first three games. Per Denson, Richmond is gearing up for its Lee County neighbors the same way it did for its first opponents, all of which were ranked.
While Southern Lee and head coach Fred Blanks aren’t the same caliber of program as the Raiders’ previous four opponents, Richmond is taking its preparation just as intensely.
“This is our next game on the schedule and we will prepare like that,” Denson said of taking one game at a time. “We will game plan like that and we will hopefully go out and execute like that on Friday night.
“Southern Lee will be ready to go. They are 2-1 and they have some players running around. We also visit their place, so going on the road is never easy. We need all of the Raider faithful to show up and support these guys.
“Overall, we look at this as the next bump in the road for our journey,” he continued. “We feel like something clicked with the guys last week in their approach to practice and the game, so whatever it was, we hope that the focus and energy will be the same.”
The Raiders have continued to click in a forward motion as the halfway point of the season nears. To make that journey a littlesmoother, Richmond still has to make some adjustments in all phases of the game.
Noting last Friday’s win wasn’t the cleanest effort by the Raiders, Denson said the focus has been on cleaning up turnovers, tweaking special teams and getting back to basics.
“The first thing is the turnovers, we have to eliminate those,” Denson shared. “If we can cut those out, our chances of scoring and coming out on top increase dramatically. Special teams need some adjusting and we have a plan for those going forward.
“We have been preaching to the guys to not quit doing the little things. The things that helped identify us early in the summer and at the beginning of the season. We can’t get away from those because the little things add up and they make a huge difference.”
Southern Lee’s offense will present a different set of challenges than what Richmond has seen so far this season. Facing pass-heavy teams like Butler, Cardinal Gibbons and Myers Park, and a downhill option game by Seventy-First, Richmond will see yet another type of offense this week.
“They will be a little more old school in the way they look,” Denson noted of Southern Lee’s offense. “They will be in the I-Formation a good bit, under center and with a fullback in the game. That’s not something you see all too often these days.
“That in itself makes our defense have to think and understand their responsibilities. Their QB is a good player along with the running back and several wide receivers. They can for sure make you pay if you aren’t lined up correctly or miss an assignment.”
At quarterback for the Cavaliers is senior Robert Sims, who is flanked by senior wide receivers Brett Blanks, Nasir Jones and Sheed Williams. Southern Lee uses many running backs, including Blanks, junior Johnny Jones and a mobile Sims.
Southern Lee, which has defeated Western Harnett and Fairmont, has limited its opponents to just 10 points per game in those wins. In their loss, the Cavs fell 22-0 to Eastern Randolph.
Offensively, the Cavs are scoring 30.3 points per game so far, while Richmond is averaging 22 points per game and 20.8 points against.
Similar to their offense, the Cavaliers’ defense will bring a different look to Friday’s meeting, a look that Denson said demands Richmond’s attention.
“On defense, they will show us a little something different as well,” Denson said. “They should be an odd stacks team and that presents our offensive line with some different things. Again, we must understand what and how they are aligning to us, communicate the calls, and then go execute our plays.
“They do have a couple of linebackers that I think are really good players and we have to make sure we account for them. We can’t just let those guys run free or they will be all over us.”
Some of Southern Lee’s top linebackers include seniors Jamauri Hall, Mike Blanks and Kamauri Davis.
As the Raiders continue to try and get everything right and ready for Friday, Denson closed by pointing to the team’s keys to success.
“Focus and energy all week at practice is a big part of the process,” Denson said. “Eliminating the turnovers on the offensive side and then creating them on the defensive side are always keys to a victory.
“Taking it one week at a time and winning that week is what we are striving for. Also, having everyone in the same boat and going the same direction can never hurt with success, and that means all of the Raider faithful showing up and supporting these guys in person.
“I realize things are going on, but these players and coaches want to see you in the stands,” he closed. “It just means so much more when we can look up and physically see you guys there. The way the Raiders travel has always been something that has helped us, so hopefully that will continue this week and the coming weeks.”
Richmond (2-2) and Southern Lee (2-1) will kick off Friday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the game can be purchased ahead of time on GoFan.co.
Sports editor’s note: Updated stats for Southern Lee were not available on MaxPreps.com at the time of publication.
