FAYETTEVILLE – For the last seven years, Scotland High School’s varsity football program has taken over as the football power in the region. While the Scots have been running things on the varsity level, Richmond’s junior varsity football program has been dominating the junior varsity scene.
Since 2011, the JV Raiders have gone 67-4 and continued their success by upending the Jack Britt Buccaneers 42-6 in Fayetteville for the program’s 24th consecutive victory.
The 36-point drubbing may seem impressive enough, but the game was not even that close. The Raiders found the end zone four times on their first six offensive plays and added an early defensive touchdown which resulted in 35-0 Richmond advantage at the end of the first quarter.
The Raiders dug into their bag of tricks on the game’s opening play. After the ball was pitched back to wide receiver Jaheim Harrington, Harrington tossed it to a wide open Jaleak Gates who sprinted to the goal line. If that sounds like déjà vu, it should. Harrington and Gates connected on a similar touchdown pass in the third quarter of last week’s 42-14 victory over Pinecrest.
After Jack Britt had to punt the ball away on the ensuing possession, the Raiders scored again on another long touchdown pass. This time, no trickery was needed as Richmond quarterback Kellan Hood hit Tremel Jones who sprinted to pay dirt.
Gates, who once again had a big night on both sides of the ball, recorded his second interception in as many weeks when he picked off a Buccaneer pass on Britt’s ensuing possession. Running back Jaron Coleman followed up Gates’ big play with one of his own. Coleman took a handoff from Hood, dodged two Britt defenders, and outran everyone to the end zone.
Another Britt punt and another long pass from Hood to Jones put the Raiders on top 28-0 in the final moments of the first quarter. Mercifully, it appeared as though the opening quarter was going to come to an end, but the Raider defense had other plans.
Gates bolted past defenders from his linebacker positon and dropped Britt’s quarterback knocking the ball loose in the process. The ball was scooped up by Raider defensive lineman Derrick Everrette who returned it for six.
The Raiders were forced to call off the dogs after running back Jah’meek Harden capped off a scoring drive with a short run early in the second quarter. Mack West, who was perfect on the night, connected on the point after to put the Raiders ahead 42-0 which initiated the running clock mercy rule.
Head Coach Patrick Hope was able to empty the bench and get everyone into the game during the second half.
The JV Raiders (5-0) will return to action on Thursday when they travel to Raz Autry Stadium at Hoke County High School. The Bucks are 2-3 on the season and have been outscored 74-8 in their two conference losses to Scotland and Seventy-First high schools.
