SOUTHERN PINES – In its first 38 seasons, the Pinecrest High School varsity football program only managed to accumulate 122 victories. That is an average of only three wins per season during that time.
In fact, in the mid-2000s, the school even considered the possibility of discontinuing its football program altogether. Then Chris Metzger showed up.
Since Metzger took over as head coach of Pinecrest in 2007, his Patriots have won seven or more games in seven of his 11 seasons at the helm. That’s something that Pinecrest had only accomplished four times in the nearly four decades prior to his arrival. The Metzger-led Patriots average nearly 30 points scored per game, more than doubling the pre-Metzger average of only 12 points per game.
Despite only going 2-9 against the Raiders, Metzger has managed to make Richmond Senior High’s annual meeting with Pinecrest significant. The Metzger era Patriots scored 35 (2009), 31 (2008) and 28 (2015) points against the Raiders. Those three games mark the most single-game points that Richmond has ever allowed to Pinecrest.
In addition to defeating the Raiders twice, Pinecrest fell in three other meetings by only one possession and led at halftime in two others. The Patriots only challenged Richmond twice prior to Metzger’s arrival – a 13-7 loss to the Raiders in 1979, and a 27-26 victory over Richmond at Raider Stadium in 1992.
When Richmond travels to John Williams Stadium on Friday night, it will be the 41st all-time meeting between the two schools. Last season, the 2017 realignment forced Pinecrest to revisit Raider Stadium for the second year in a row. So this will be the Richmond’s first visit to Pinecrest since 2015.
The Raiders are 37-3 all-time against Pinecrest and have outscored the Patriots 1630-433. Richmond has held Pinecrest to a touchdown or less in 22 of the 40 meetings, including nine shutouts.
The Raiders and Patriots will enter the game with matching 3-1 records. Pinecrest defeated E.A. Laney (1-3) 35-13, Gray’s Creek (2-2) 24-21, and Providence (1-5) 36-14. Their lone defeat was an 8-0 decision to a traditionally good Hillside (2-2) program.
Richmond on the other hand, has played one of the toughest schedules of any 4A team in the state. Reagan (4-1), Wake Forest (5-0), and Butler (3-2) are all currently in the NCPreps Top 10 4A poll. Richmond joins that trio in the poll at the No. 4 spot. The Raiders also played a defensively tough Pine Forest (4-1) team.
Patriot senior quarterback Greg Vansteen completed 5-of-8 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns in the team’s win over Providence on Sept. 7. It was his best performance of the season so far, but he has thrown at least one interception in three of his four games. Last season, the Raider defense picked off Vansteen twice in a 28-7 win at Raider Stadium.
The Raider defense will need to be ready for Pinecrest’s ground attack led by Zaythan Hill. The Pinecrest senior has rushed for over 100 yards in nine of his last 10 appearances dating back to Oct. 2017. He is the leading rusher for the Patriots in 2018 with 649 yards and five touchdowns in their four games this season. Hill did not play in the game against Richmond last season.
With this being one of just four home games for Pinecrest this season, everyone can expect the Patriots to give it their all. After two weeks off and the stress and interruptions caused by Hurricane Florence, neither team is really going to be able to ride the momentum of their big wins from three weeks ago.
The kickoff to the Sandhills Athletic Conference opener in Southern Pines is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $7 and can be purchased in advance at the Richmond Senior High School front office until noon on Friday. Raider fans are asked to enter the visitor’s gate in front of the baseball field.
As usual, the Richmond Observer will be on hand to report all of the action.
