ROCKINGHAM — Rewarded for their efforts on Halloween Night not in candy but with some new hardware, the Richmond Raiders finished their clean sweep through Mid-South Conference opponents in dominating fashion.
An 11-week journey to make history came to fruition for the Richmond Senior High School football team, as it claimed the inaugural MSC championship.
The final hurdle in the Raiders’ season-long quest was Pinecrest High School, which proved to be little more than a small step to get over to reclaim the top spot in the conference.
Entering the night as the two undefeated teams in conference play, it was Richmond which kept its perfect record intact by shutting down the Patriots’ run game and exploiting their secondary through the air.
Taking care of business on senior night, which recognized the program’s 21 seniors before kickoff, Richmond thwarted any championship hopes of the Patriots in a 58-27 bashing.
Extending their season-long winning streak to seven games, the Raiders ended the Patriots’ eight-game winning streak. Richmond also recorded its fourth running-clock victory of the season and their third in a row.
With their win over the Patriots this season, the Raiders secured their second consecutive regular-season conference title. Second-year head coach Brad Denson improved to 2-0 against Pinecrest and has coached Richmond to an MSC and a Sandhills Athletic Conference crown.
It was a big night for senior quarterback Evan Hodges and senior wide receivers Amer Morrison and Jayden Hamilton. Hodges tied his single-game career-high with five passing touchdowns, which were distributed to Morrison (3) and Hamilton (2).
Morrison’s trio of receiving touchdowns were a single-game career-high, while Hamilton matched his best performance from last season.
The Raiders also scored three times on the ground — twice from junior running back Chance Crowder and once from sophomore athlete Ty Covington.
Richmond’s final two points of the game came on a safety late in the third quarter, which was recorded by junior defensive back Kyngston Kirby.
Also winning the turnover battle, Covington intercepted a pass, extending his streak to four straight games with a pick. Recovering fumbles were juniors Keviyon McManus and Konner Gardner, both of which were collected on special teams.
An early scare from Pinecrest resulted in a 65-yard rushing score by running back Chris Najm on the first play from scrimmage.
The point-after attempt put the Patriots ahead 7-0 just 12 seconds into the game, but it was their only lead of the night.
Richmond thundered back on its second drive of the game, scoring its first of five straight touchdowns on consecutive drives. The Raiders got the ball back after a Patriots punt was forced by a Covington pass break up and a bad snap.
Matching the early energy, the Raiders’ offense also scored on the first play of its second series. Crowder got the Raiders on the board when he raced 61 yards to the end zone to help knot the score.
Breaking to the right side, Crowder beat a defender one-on-one in a foot race inside the final few yards. Senior Jake Veach tacked on the first of his five first-half PATs to tie the game with 5:54 on the first-quarter clock.
Getting the ball back after another punt by Pinecrest, Richmond was quick to score again and take the lead for good. Again needing just one play to burn the Patriots’ defense, Hodges threw his first touchdown of the game.
Starting at his own 37-yard line, Hodges used good protection from the offensive line to find Morrison streaking across the middle of the field with no defenders in the area. Making the catch near midfield, Morrison zipped 63 yards untouched to the house.
After Veach’s PAT, Richmond led 14-7 with just under a minute left in the opening stanza.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Patriots coughed up the ball after a hard hit. The ball popped into the air and McManus was there to snag it mid flight and regain possession at the Richmond 36-yard line.
That turnover led to another passing score three plays later. A pair of positive yardage plays by junior wide receiver Jasiah Cooper moved the ball to the Patriots’ 35-yard line.
On the first play of the second quarter, Hodges dropped a perfectly-placed pass into the outstretched hands of Hamilton in the end zone. The 35-yard passing score with 11:54 to go in the first half was added to by another Veach PAT.
Leading 21-7, Richmond allowed Najm to cut the deficit to one score on the next drive. Najm scored on the ground from four yards on fourth down.
Unfazed, Hodges and the offense went back to work and pieced together their longest scoring drive of the first half. Going 65 yards on six plays, the offense found pay dirt again.
Capping the series was Covington, who weaved his way through the Patriots’ defense for a 25-yard rushing score. The play was set up by a 32-yard completion from Hodges to freshman tiger back Cam’ron Coley.
Splitting the uprights with 4:55 left in the second, Veach increased the lead to 28-14.
Before the half, Richmond would score one more time and force another turnover.
On the second play of the team’s sixth offensive possession, Hodges and Hamilton linked up for a final time. Airing out a pass on a go route down the near sideline, Hodges hit Hamilton in stride and the rest of the play was green grass.
That 78-yard passing score, coupled with the PAT, made it 35-14 with under two minutes to go.
Pinecrest managed to score before the break thanks to a 47-yard passing touchdown from quarterback Najee Gillis to receiver Zackary Fleet.
On the final two possessions of the half, one by each team, Hodges threw an interception and Covington answered with a near pick-six as time expired, but was edged out of bounds.
To start the second half, Richmond needed just over seven minutes of the game clock to take a 35-point lead and initiate the running clock.
Receiving the second-half kickoff, Richmond went 90 yards on three plays. Mirroring Hamilton’s second touchdown earlier in the game, Hodges and Morrison did the same thing along the other sideline.
The 66-yard catch and run was the result of another well-thrown pass from Hodges and Morrison using his speed to burn the defensive back and create space for the catch.
Leading 42-14, Richmond’s defense forced a three-and-out by a depleted Patriots offense. Having to punt after a short series, Richmond’s special teams unit came up with the team’s final takeaway.
On a Richmond punt, the ball bounced and deflected off a Patriot, which was scooped up by Gardner. His first career varsity fumble recovery gave the team the ball back at the Richmond 35-yard line and led to Crowder’s final score of the game.
Crowder helped himself out with a 57-yard burst on third down to get inside the five-yard line. On first-and-goal from the four-yard line, Crowder eased his way into the end zone. Veach made it 49-21 with 4:48 to go in the third.
Keeping their foot on the gas, the Raiders recovered a surprise onside kick on the ensuing kickoff. Cooper was quick to the ball and pounced on it at midfield.
Not holding back, Denson and the Raiders went for the jugular on the very next offensive play to bury the Patriots for good.
Playing deja vu, Hodges and Morrison synced up for a third time. Hodges’ final passing score of the game was a 50-yard dart to Morrison down the far sideline, who again had the defensive back beat by several steps.
With 4:41 left in the third quarter, Veach kicked his eighth and final PAT, the most he’s ever made in a single game, and extended the lead to 56-21.
Pinecrest’s woes continued on its next series when a bad snap deep in its own territory resulted in a safety. Kirby was the first of a couple Raiders to jump on the ball carrier as he stumbled into his own end zone.
The two points made it 58-21 and the score would stay the same until the final play of the game. With Richmond’s reserve players in on both sides of the ball, the Raiders managed the clock and ran out much of the remaining time.
The Patriots scored a desperation passing touchdown as time expired for their final six points.
The Raiders ended their regular season with an 8-2 overall record and cemented their second straight undefeated run through conference play. This fall, Richmond was a perfect 5-0 against MSC opponents.
Next up for the Raiders is a waiting game with the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, which pushed its playoff bracket release to Sunday.
Richmond has already clinched a playoff spot and is projected by many to play in the 7A West bracket and receive a first round bye. The Richmond Observer will release a playoff preview once brackets go final.
The Richmond Observer will publish photo galleries of Friday’s senior night ceremony and game photos later this weekend.
Sports editor’s note: Official statistics from Friday’s game were not available at the time of publication.
