ROCKINGHAM — A journey that started for the Richmond Senior High School football team in the spring came to a “very abrupt” ending during the fourth round of the 2019 NCHSAA state playoffs on Dec. 6.
While third-year head coach Bryan Till admitted that this season felt like one destined to end in the program’s eighth all-time state title trophy, he also isn’t letting one loss define it.
The Raiders recorded a 13-1 overall record in 2019, the first time since 2005 to reach that many wins in a single season. Richmond’s lone loss would come to Vance High School in the West Regional Championship game, a week before the Cougars clinched the 4AA state title.
“It’s tough to say exactly how this season was,” Till said after thinking about it for a moment. “But the biggest thing was being a part of something bigger, something better within our community.
“It’s a shock we didn’t win the state title,” he added. “With everything we felt was going right, it was very abrupt the way the ending came. All year felt special -- not just the playoff run. We believed we did the right things to get around early roadblocks, and we fully expected to win against Vance.”
In the closing moments during the playoff loss to Vance, Till said “it was awesome to see everybody stay and honor our kids,” adding “that’s what it really is all about… these kids getting their one shot to play football and getting the support of their community.”
During a season that started in mid-August with a coaching controversy surrounding its first opponent (Clayton High School) and an uncharacteristic on-the-field altercation at Anson High School in Week 2, Richmond overcame early obstacles to make this season a success in more ways than just wins alone.
The program earned its 500th all-time win in a 45-6 shredding of Seventy-First High School on senior night on Nov. 1, and ended the season with a 503-111-5 all-time record in 47 years. That gives the Raiders an all-time winning percentage of 81.92 percent.
A week later, the Raiders blew past rival Scotland High School in the regular-season finale 48-13 to earn their second straight Sandhills Athletic Conference Title. Like Till noted, everything was trending in the right direction for the Raiders, who completed a perfect 7-0 sweep against SAC opponents for the second year running.
Fast forward to the second and third rounds of the 4AA state playoffs, which saw No. 1-ranked Richmond earn statement wins over No. 8 Hough and No. 4 Myers Park high schools. A second-half comeback propelled the Raiders to a 35-32 win over the Mustangs, redeeming a loss to the same program from the season before.
Part of that win was junior quarterback Caleb Hood’s career-high four rushing touchdowns. The 6-0, 212-pound signal caller continued to rewrite Richmond’s record books this season, becoming the first passer in the school’s history to eclipse the 5,000 and 6,000 career passing yard mark (he currently has 6,302 passing yards, 59 passing scores and 27 rushing scores).
Senior tailback Jaheim Covington closed his three-year varsity career with 2,947 rushing yards, 53 rushing scores and 56 total touchdowns. He had career highs in rushing yards (1,293) and rushing touchdowns (23) this season. Covington matched his career high with four rushing scores against Jack Britt High School.
There are several other storylines that saw the Raiders earn individual and team accolades, including junior wide receivers Jakolbe Baldwin and Dalton Stroman both surpassing the 1,000-yard receiving mark of their careers.
Thanks to a powerful offensive line that featured seniors Brian Bowden, Austin Hart and Trent Simpson, along with junior Jaleel Davis and sophomore Braxton Butler, among others, the Raiders’ high-caliber offense averaged 40.6 points per contest.
Defensively, a team lead by junior linebacker CJ Tillma (team-high 105 tackles, 5 sacks), senior safety Dereck Barringer (92 tackles), senior linebacker Gavin Russell (79 tackles, 6 sacks) and senior defensive end Javon Little (45 tackles, 6 sacks), the Raiders held opponents to just 10.2 points per game during the regular season.
At season’s close, Richmond saw a conference-best 17 players named to the 2019 All-SAC team. Hood and Tillman earned the top individual accolades, but it was the third time in as many seasons under Till the Raiders had the most players selected to the All-Conference squad.
“We’re here because we did things right,” Till reflected. “We didn’t achieve exactly what we wanted, but this group of seniors put in the work ethic, and that’s the thing. Seeing that hard work come to fruition, to see that work ethic pay off the last three years, that’s fulfilling.”
While the feeling of coming up short during a rollercoaster ride of emotions during the playoffs still hurts, Till said how Richmond County’s buy-in to this year’s team proved to be an x-factor that attributed to the Raiders’ success on Friday nights.
“I love these kids and this community,” Till smiled. “It was obvious the community appreciated what we were doing a lot more this year. When you talk about putting on Friday nights, Mr. (Jim) Butler is our announcer, and you don’t see many other schools’ principals do that.
“The seats were filled and the fans were a big piece to the many other pieces that made this season a success,” he added. “I have such a great appreciation for how much love we have for football in Richmond County.”
Till also took time to express his gratitude to his coaching staff, which is a formidable combination of Raider alumni, passionate football instructors and men dedicated to making the lives of high school athletes better on and off the field.
“I really appreciate all of the coaches,” Till said. “I get a lot of credit because I’m the head coach, but they do so much to help our team. I’ve been blessed with a lot of really great coaches on this staff.
“All of these guys spend a lot of time away from their own families and children,” he added. “Guys like Coach Mitch Hadinger and Coach Chris Larsen put in so much extra time and effort they may not get recognized for. I can’t say thanks enough to all of the coaches.”
With the holiday season upon Raider Nation, Till and the rest of the program will enjoy some downtime with family and friends. But for a sport that never really stops, everyone in the Raider program will be back in action at the start of the new semester preparing for spring workouts and a run during the 2020 season.
But for now, Till is enjoying the success of the Raiders this season, and says he “couldn’t be prouder of the young men” he coached this fall.
