ROCKINGHAM — Continuing its best start to a season since 2018, the Richmond Senior High School junior varsity football team held on late during Thursday’s non-conference game.
Hosting Northwest Guilford High School, the JV Raiders earned a 28-21 victory.
Notching its third victory to start the new campaign, Richmond used four rushing touchdowns to hold off a late comeback attempt by the JV Vikings.
Freshman running back TJ Watkins scored the first three touchdowns on the ground and sophomore tailback Donovan Jones scored what proved to be the game-winning trip to the end zone.
Erasing an early deficit to take a 14-7 at halftime, Richmond led by as much as 28-7 in the second half. Northwest Guilford scored its final two touchdowns in the game’s final 90 seconds.
On defense, freshman linebacker Jaxton Watson recorded two interceptions in the win. The first thwarted a potential scoring drive in the second quarter and the other came in the fourth quarter, which led to Richmond’s final touchdown.
After the JV Raiders fumbled on their second possession of the game deep in their own territory, the JV Vikings scored first.
Finding the end zone from inside the 10-yard line on a reverse, Northwest Guilford took a 7-0 after the point-after attempt with 6:05 left in the first quarter.
Richmond’s third possession saw the ball moved to the JV Vikings’ 24-yard line after a long run by freshman quarterback Damarion Allen. But on the next play, a fumble by the JV Raiders resulted in a Northwest Guilford recovery to its red zone.
The JV Raiders’ defense held tough and kept the game at a one-score deficit, keeping the JV Vikings out of the end zone and getting the ball back at their own 15-yard line.
That stop led to the first of two first-half scores by Richmond. Going 85 yards on five plays, Allen made completions to freshman Dereon Wiley (45 yards) and Watkins (22 yards) to set up the scoring play.
Tying the game 7-7 was Watkins on a 14-yard rushing score. Freshman kicker Nate Erwin, who was a perfect 4-for-4 on the night, added the PAT with 31 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Just past the midway point of the second quarter, Richmond’s offense struck again to take the lead for good. The 75-yard drive actually saw the JV Raiders cross into the end zone four times, but the first three rushes were nullified by penalties.
Capping the march was Watkins again, this time on a direct snap in the wildcat formation. He carried the ball right up the middle for a five-yard touchdown run.
With Erwin’s PAT, the JV Raiders pulled ahead 14-7 with 4:49 to play before the half.
Helping stop a deep drive into Richmond’s defensive zone, Watson recorded his first interception to stall the JV Vikings at the JV Raiders’ 15-yard line with seven seconds to go before the break.
Richmond increased its lead on its second possession of the second half as Watkins ended his big night on the ground. Similar to his second score, Watkins rushed it in from five yards.
Early in the fourth quarter, Watson made his second pick and returned it near midfield. A few plays later, Jones broke loose for a 45-yard rushing score to end Richmond’s offensive production and put the team up by three possessions.
Head coach Patrick Hope said late in the fourth quarter the JV Raiders “started playing reserve players, which led to two Northwest Guilford touchdowns.” Both were passing scores in the final two minutes.
The JV Raiders (3-0) complete their non-conference schedule Thursday at West Forsyth High School (2-2). Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m.
Sports editor’s note: Head coach Patrick Hope and Deon Cranford III contributed to this article.
