ROCKINGHAM — A couple of major changes to the Richmond Senior High School varsity football team’s schedule were announced by school officials on Wednesday.
Athletic director Rob Ransom and head football coach Bryan Till confirmed to the Richmond Observer that the Raiders’ original Sandhills Athletic Conference opener against Southern Lee High School has been moved to October.
The Raiders (2-1) were supposed to open SAC play against Southern Lee (0-3) on Friday, Sept. 17, but Till said he was informed earlier on Wednesday that the Cavaliers are unable to play because the team is following COVID-19 protocols.
This is the first time during the 2021-22 sports calendar that any of Richmond’s fall varsity programs have had to make scheduling changes because of teams having to quarantine.
Following approval from the SAC, Richmond will now play Southern Lee on Tuesday, Oct. 12, at Raider Stadium. That will be the second of three games played by the Raiders in an eight-day span.
Richmond’s non-conference finale against South View High School (2-0) will still be played at home this Friday.
Games against SAC opponents Pinecrest High School (home, Friday, Sept. 24), Hoke County High School (away, Friday, Oct. 1) and Union Pines High School (away, Friday, Oct. 8) are still scheduled for their original dates at 7:30 p.m.
Tucked between the road trip to Union Pines and a home game against Lee County High School will be the Southern Lee contest at 7 p.m.
The other significant change is that the Raiders will now host the Lee County Yellow Jackets on Saturday, Oct. 16, at 11 a.m. That game was moved to allow for three days between games, which is the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s rule.
Richmond will then return to its originally scheduled bye week, followed by its regular-season finale at rival Scotland High School on Friday, Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m.
Below is an updated varsity football schedule as it stands at the time of publication. Home games are bold and conference games are marked with an asterisk.
Friday, Sept. 10 vs. South View at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 24 vs. Pinecrest at 7:30 p.m. *
Friday, Oct. 1 @ Hoke County at 7:30 p.m. *
Friday, Oct. 8 @ Union Pines at 7:30 p.m. *
Tuesday, Oct. 12 vs. Southern Lee at 7 p.m. *
Saturday, Oct. 16 vs. Lee County at 11 a.m. *
Bye Week
Friday, Oct. 29 @ Scotland at 7:30 p.m. *
