ROCKINGHAM — From this point forward, the Richmond Raider football team is approaching each of its remaining two regular-season games with a little bit of added weight.
On the heels of back-to-back shutout wins, the first time in four seasons that’s happened, the Raiders and head coach Bryan Till still control part of their destiny to make it back to the NCHSAA 4A state playoffs.
With Lee County High School next on the schedule to visit Raider Stadium on Friday for senior night, Richmond hopes to keep its winning drive going in Sandhills Athletic Conference action.
After the Yellow Jackets, Richmond will have its bye week before finishing the regular-season slate at Scotland High School.
“Every week is a playoff game to give ourselves a chance,” Till explained. “In the playoffs, it is win or go home and so that approach for us makes it important.”
Winners of three of their last four games, the Raiders currently sit in third place in the SAC standings behind Scotland and Pincrest, which are tied for first.
A big boost to the Raiders’ success in conference play has come from its defense, which hasn’t allowed a point since the first half of Richmond’s loss to Pinecrest on Sept. 22, a span of 10 quarters.
While the offense has been able to click more in gear during that stretch, the Raiders’ defensive front has set the tone early in each of the team’s last two games.
That level of play will be necessary for Richmond to make it three straight wins, especially against a formidable ball carrier for the Yellow Jackets.
“I believe the intensity will be there because our guys are taking great pride in playing good defense,” Till shared. “The execution will be tougher because No. 7 (Bradley Brown) for Lee County is really good.
“(Brown) sees things other running backs don’t see and makes cuts and plays that others can’t,” he added of Lee County’s senior rusher. “Add to that the fact that the QB (Jack Martin) has lots of read opportunities off the runs and it makes it a tougher assignment this week.”
Brown enters Week 9 as the second leading rusher in the SAC behind Scotland’s Zay Jones. Averaging 170.6 rushing yards per game, Brown has 10 touchdowns and 853 rushing yards in just five games.
Martin, who leads the SAC with 144.7 passing yards per game, has completed 62.2 percent of his passes and added seven scores through the air.
“They are almost always in four wide receiver sets on offense,” Till said. “That could be 2×2 and 3×1 sets. They can and will go some empty, but not much.
“The whole offense runs through the running back position. They run the ball well, but do a very good job in the passing game off the run.”
A trio of players each have two reception scores this year — Brown, Kamaree Butler and Jayden Hill. The No. 1 target is Hill, who leads the team with 33 receptions for 435 yards.
Lee County (4-3, 1-2 SAC) is averaging 29.3 points per game while allowing 23.5 points per game. Richmond’s line is 22.9 points per game on offense and 27.1 points against.
On defense, the Yellow Jackets are led by senior linebacker Isaiah McKendall’s 44 total tackles (8.8 per game), six of which have gone for a loss.
Junior defensive end Ronnie Hooker’s speed off the edge has allowed him to collect 18 tackles-for-loss, half of which have resulted in a quarterback sack.
“The defense is very fast and athletic,” Till said. “They are big in the middle on the defensive line and No. 57 (Prince Lamison) and others are tall and fast on the ends with No. 0 (Julian Best) and No. 23 (Hooker).
“The linebackers run very well and make plays in the passing game, as well as the run. Overall they are very sound and do what they do well.”
Another advantage Richmond has going for it is its offense and defense feeding off one another over the past month,
“I think we have helped each other,” Till said. “Even when the offense hasn’t scored, they have driven the ball regularly, eaten some clock and field position, which makes playing defense easier.
“If we can continue to get stops and have positive possessions we will be able to keep scoring regularly,” he closed.
The Raiders (3-5, 3-1 SAC) will recognize their 22 senior players ahead of Friday’s home game, which is slated for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. Tickets are available on GoFan or will be sold at the gate.
