WILMINGTON — In the postgame huddle of Friday’s season-opening loss, head coach Brad Denson challenged the Richmond Raider football team to find out its strength when “being strong is your only choice.”
Week 1 of the high school football season was a battle for the Raiders, who began their five game non-conference schedule against John T. Hoggard High School on the road.
Despite holding a first-half lead and later retaking the lead in the fourth quarter, a high-scoring second half by both teams ended one trip to the end zone short for the Richmond.
When a failed fourth down attempt by Richmond’s offense turned the ball over with 1:01 left in regulation, the Vikings ran out the clock to clinch a 28-21 victory.
Denson took full responsibility for the loss, explaining that he and the coaching staff have to do a better job in preparing the team for a quality opponent like Hoggard, which made the fourth round of the state playoffs last year.
The bottom line, Denson said, was Richmond was “outcoached” Friday.
Two of Richmond’s scores came on the ground courtesy of sophomore tailback Ty Covington, resulting in his first career varsity touchdowns.
Senior quarterback Evan Hodges threw one touchdown pass to junior running back Chance Crowder, a score that put Richmond ahead early in the game.
The Raiders’ only takeaway on defense was a second-half interception by junior safety Shamir Jones. His first career varsity pick led to Covington’s second touchdown, which put Richmond ahead by a score early in the fourth quarter.
In a first half littered by penalties and yellow flags, mostly against the Raiders, both teams scored on one of their six respective possessions in the opening two quarters.
Richmond struck first on its opening drive after the Vikings deferred the kickoff. Needing just four plays to go 61 yards, the Raiders overcame two penalties and scored on a long third down situation.
On the first play from scrimmage from the Richmond 39-yard line, Hodges aired out a dart to junior wide receiver Jasiah Cooper over the middle. Jumping above the defensive back, Cooper hauled in the 36-yard completion.
A holding and a false start followed and Hodges got a yard back on a completion to senior wideout Keonta Pegues.
Facing a third-and-24 at the Hoggard 39-yard line, Hodges connected with Crowder for Richmond’s only first-half score. Rolling left under pressure, Hodges made a short completion to Crowder, who did the rest by tiptoeing down the left sideline to the house.
Going for two points after a Hoggard penalty, Crowder was stopped short. The Raiders took their first lead of the season 6-0 with 10:13 to go in the first.
Richmond’s defense answered by forcing two three-and-out punts on Hoggard’s first two drives.
Senior defensive end Jason Gainey had a tackle-for-loss on third down on the first drive, and a batted pass attempt at the line from senior edge Terande Spencer and a third-down stop by sophomore CJ Covington forced a punt a possession later.
The Raiders’ offense, hampered by penalties the remainder of the half, punted on four of their final drives. The last possession of the half ended in an interception with Richmond wanting a defensive holding call after senior receiver Jayden Hamilton appeared to be wrapped up by a defender.
Hoggard almost went three-and-out on its third drive, but a roughing penalty on the punt gave the Vikings new life.
Although Hoggard moved across midfield, Spencer and junior linebacker Alijah Flowers created a fumble a few plays later that was picked up by Hoggard. Ty Covington, who also plays cornerback, leveled a would-be receiver on fourth down two plays later to knock the ball loose and create a turnover on downs.
The Vikings took the lead 7-6 with 3:04 left in the second quarter after a 10-yard rushing touchdown by quarterback Matthew Boring.
Richmond had two more possessions in the closing 2:59 of the first half, but they ended in a punt and an interception.
Senior defensive back Domonic Tillman broke up the Vikings’ final play of the half, a deep throw into the end zone.
To begin the third quarter, Hoggard scored its next touchdown less than three minutes into the second half. Boring threw a 28-yard pass to Shamell Canty and the point-after attempt made it 14-6.
Richmond had four possessions in the second half and found the end zone on the first two drives.
A six-play, 69-yard march started with a 34-yard catch and run from Hodges to senior receiver Amer Morrison, who reversed field to pick up additional yards. Richmond continued to move the ball with a completion to Pegues and a personal foul penalty after a Crowder run.
On first-and-goal from the eight-yard line, Ty Covington took the handoff and surged ahead for the touchdown run.
Making up for the earlier missed two-point conversion, a trick play helped the Raiders knot the score 14-14 with 5:16 to go in the third stanza.
Taking the snap, Hodges handed the ball to Crowder who was sweeping left. Reversing the ball to Pegues on the end around, Pegues showed off his arm by making the completion to Hodges in the front right corner of the end zone.
Jones came in clutch nine plays into the Vikings’ next drive when he picked off a Boring pass attempt on third down. That gave the Raiders the ball back at their 39-yard line with 1:29 to go in the third.
Taking its time, the Richmond offense matriculated the ball 65 yards on nine plays to open its largest lead of the game, 21-14.
With the help of a defensive pass interference call against the Vikings, a 17-yard hook up between Hodges and Morrison on third-and-16 extended the drive to the Hoggard 28-yard line.
Three snaps later, Ty Covington toted the ball 23 yards straight through the middle of the field to notch his second rushing score of the half. Called in for the PAT was senior kicker Jake Veach, who split the uprights to make it a seven-point lead with 9:40 left in the game.
Hoggard used a long return on the ensuing kickoff to score six plays later. Boring threw a three-yard score to Nakula O’Connor to help tie the game after the successful PAT.
Hamilton started Richmond’s next drive with a 23-yard catch and run from Hodges, muscling his way through a horde of defenders for the final five yards. A go route by Hamilton three snaps later on third down again saw him wrapped up by a defender, but no flag was thrown.
Going for it on fourth-and-seven from the Hoggard 46-yard line, Richmond turned it over on downs following a quarterback sack.
The final score of the game by either team came five plays into the next Viking drive. Justin Arciola rushed it in from 22 yards out with 1:38 to play.
Going into its two-minute drill mode, Richmond managed to breathe some life and make it down to the Hoggard 36-yard line.
Needing eight yards on a fourth down attempt with just over a minute left, Hodges completed a pass to Morrison on the near sideline, but he was stopped two yards shy of the line to gain.
Looking to move past the Week 1 loss, the Raiders (0-1) will keep with tradition and play Scotland High School (1-0) next Friday at Raider Stadium.
Although it’s not the regular season finale like past years, the latest edition of the neighboring county rivals between Richmond and the Fighting Scots will kickoff at 7:30 p.m.
The Richmond Observer will publish a photo gallery of the Raiders’ season opener this weekend.
Sports editor’s note: Official statistics for either team were not available at the time of publication.
