ROCKINGHAM — The Richmond Senior High School Raiders opened the 2026 season Thursday night against one of North Carolina's premier football programs and, despite a host of injuries, cramping issues and early mistakes, showed plenty of promise before falling 27-13 to the Hoggard Vikings at Raider Stadium.
The game was moved from Friday to Thursday because of forecasts calling for severe weather across the region.
Facing a Hoggard team that entered the season after a 12-1 campaign in 2025 and ranked among the state's top programs, Richmond battled back from a 17-point deficit and remained within striking distance well into the fourth quarter before the Vikings closed out the victory.
The Raiders showed offensive potential from the opening possession. Sophomore quarterback Damarion Allen, making his first varsity start, electrified the home crowd with a 54-yard run on Richmond's first drive, although a holding penalty erased much of the gain. The Raiders repeatedly moved the football throughout the evening but struggled to overcome penalties and missed opportunities that stalled promising possessions.
Hoggard opened the scoring late in the first quarter. After the Vikings pushed their way near the goal line, they were forced backward with a series of penalties and negative plays by the Richmond defense. The Vikings eventually settled for a 33-yard field goal by Kanoa McGee to take a 3-0 lead.
The Vikings gradually built their advantage behind senior quarterback Matthew Boring, who completed 14 of 22 passes for 170 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Hoggard added 135 rushing yards and finished the night with 305 total yards of offense.
Despite moving the ball effectively, Richmond found itself trailing 17-0 late in the second quarter. Rather than allowing the game to get away, the Raiders answered with their most impressive drive of the night.
Starting at their own 20-yard line with 1:19 remaining in the half, Allen directed an 80-yard scoring march. He completed key passes to sophomore Dereon Wiley and senior Chance Crowder while using his athleticism to escape pressure and extend plays.
Crowder's long catch-and-run moved the Raiders inside the five-yard line before the senior running back capped the drive with a one-yard touchdown run from the Wildcat formation with 11 seconds remaining before halftime. The score cut the deficit to 17-7 and provided Richmond with much-needed momentum entering the locker room.
That momentum carried over into the second half as Richmond's defense delivered some of its best football of the night.
The Raiders forced multiple punts, produced several three-and-outs and came up with a goal-line stand after a mishandled punt snap gave Hoggard possession deep in Richmond territory. The Vikings managed only a 25-yard field goal after the turnover, extending their lead to 20-7 rather than delivering a potentially game-changing touchdown. Richmond also came up with a blocked field goal by sophomore Cam Coley, one of several momentum-shifting plays by the Raider defense.
Several defenders played significant roles in Richmond's strong second-half effort. Junior Ty Covington recorded a fourth-quarter interception that gave the Raiders possession in Viking territory and a chance to climb back into the game. Sophomore Julian Ingram consistently disrupted plays near the line of scrimmage, while Coley, senior Shamir Jones, junior Donovan Jones contributed key tackles and stops as Richmond adjusted defensively after halftime. The Raiders also spent the evening without junior C.J. Covington, a leader in the secondary who was sidelined because of injury.
Richmond's defensive performance became even more impressive considering the circumstances. Cramping and injuries forced constant adjustments throughout the night, and at times the Raiders used as many as seven defensive backs while having five sophomores on the field simultaneously on defense. Despite its youth and rotating lineup, Richmond limited Hoggard to 135 rushing yards on 35 carries, an average of just 3.8 yards per rush, while holding Boring to 170 passing yards. The Raiders also produced a blocked field goal, an interception, a goal-line stand and multiple second-half stops against one of the state's best offenses.
Allen delivered the game's biggest highlight early in the fourth quarter.
The sophomore quarterback broke free for a spectacular 76-yard touchdown run, sprinting through the Viking defense and cutting Richmond's deficit to 20-13. Although the extra-point attempt was unsuccessful, the Raiders suddenly had momentum and appeared poised to make a serious run at the comeback.
The defense continued to create opportunities. Covington's interception gave the Raiders possession in Viking territory, but Richmond was unable to convert the takeaway into points. Later, a roughing-the-punter penalty extended a Hoggard drive that otherwise would have ended, creating one of the game's key turning points.
Hoggard capitalized on the second chance. With 5:26 remaining, Boring escaped pressure and connected with Micah Hunter for a touchdown pass that extended the Vikings' lead to 27-13. Richmond mounted one final push, but a fourth-down fumble ended the Raiders' comeback hopes and allowed Hoggard to run out the clock.
Despite the loss, Richmond's offense produced several encouraging performances. Allen finished 9-of-16 passing for approximately 80 yards and rushed for 129 yards and a touchdown in his varsity debut. Crowder added 96 rushing yards, a touchdown and a key reception during the Raiders' late first-half scoring drive. Ty Covington also contributed carries as part of a Richmond rushing attack that totaled approximately 225 yards against a tough Hoggard defense.
The Raiders generated more than 300 total yards of offense and demonstrated the ability to compete with one of the state's elite programs. While the final score reflected a loss, Richmond's young roster showed toughness, athleticism and resilience throughout the evening, particularly on the defensive side of the football.
Richmond (0-1) now turns its attention to one of the state's most storied rivalries as the Raiders travel to Laurinburg on Friday, Aug. 28, for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff against Scotland High School at Pate Stadium. The Fighting Scots also opened the season with a loss, falling 25-22 on the road at Asheboro.
(See more than 500 photos from the game on the RO's Facebook page.)
