ROCKINGHAM — Down by two scores during the first half of Friday’s second round playoff game, the Richmond Raider football team didn’t hit the panic button.
Instead, the No. 6 Raiders dug deep to complete the comeback victory and eliminate No. 11 Porter Ridge High School.
Thanks to a single-game career-high six touchdowns by junior running back Chance Crowder, Richmond held on for a 48-43 victory.
Crowder rushed for five touchdowns, one shy of tying the program’s single-game record, and caught one touchdown.
Senior quarterback Evan Hodges finished the game with two passing scores — one to Crowder and one to senior wide receiver Amer Morrison. He also set the program’s new single-season passing yards record, previously held by Leon Zeigler (2015).
Part of the Raiders’ comeback was scoring on their first three possessions to start the second half.
During that stretch, a strip sack by senior edge Terande Spencer and a fumble recovery from senior nose tackle Demonte Martin set up the final of of those three touchdowns.
Crowder scored the game-winning touchdown with 15 seconds left in regulation, erasing a 43-42 deficit.
Richmond’s defense did its job on the final two plays of the game in the red zone, thwarting two pass attempts by the Pirates (7-5).
Click here to read the full game story, complete with scoring plays and player and coach interviews.
No. 6 Richmond (9-2) will travel to No. 3 Independence High School (9-2) next Friday for the third round. An official game time hasn’t been announced.
The Richmond Observer will publish a preview article later in the week.
