ROCKINGHAM — Fifteen points in 14 seconds — a score each from both sides of the ball, along with an extra point and a two-point conversion — was the deciding factor for the Richmond Senior High School football team Friday.
Putting an exclamation point at the end of an already successful week for Richmond athletics, the Raiders completed a full sweep of Scotland High School across varsity and junior varsity in four sports.
Quieting the much-talked about Scotland ground game, the Raiders took care of business against the Fighting Scots to end Rivalry Week with a 36-21 win, their first victory of the season.
In true rivalry fashion, the two teams traded points early in the game and played physical football for the entirety of the non-conference meeting.
A game littered with penalty flags on both sides, the Raiders used a touchdown pass and a pick-six late in the second quarter to put the game out of reach for the Scots (1-1).
Using a balanced diet on offense, the Raiders scored two passing touchdowns and two rushing scores. Both of the passing touchdowns were thrown by senior quarterback Evan Hodges, one each to senior receivers Amer Morrison and Keonta Pegues.
Pegues proved to be a playmaker all game, and added a rushing touchdown. Recording the other score on the ground was junior running back Chance Crowder.
Sophomore two-way player Ty Covington was responsible for the fifth score, a pick-six on his first career varsity interception.
Leading 29-14 at halftime, the Raiders nearly shut out the Scots’ offense in the final two quarters. Both teams scored once in the second half.
Winning the physicality battle, as well as sustaining drives, were other keys to victory head coach Brad Denson said afterward.
Both teams punted on their first respective possessions to start the game, with the Raiders’ defense forcing a three-and-out. After that, the end zones were the place to be for both teams the rest of the half.
Richmond’s offense struck first on its second possession, finishing a four-play, 28-yard drive. Helping set up the short field was a strong punt return by Pegues.
Three straight runs by Crowder got Richmond to the Scots’ 16-yard line. On first down, Pegues took the handoff from Hodges and turned on the jets to round the left edge for a rushing score.
Senior specialist Jake Veach connected on the first of his three first-half point-after attempts to make it 7-0 with 5:07 left in the opening quarter.
Pegues’ touchdown was the first of three trips to the end zone on three consecutive possessions for the Raiders.
The Scots relied heavily on their running game on their next drive and took almost eight minutes off the play clock to score on a 15-play march.
Tying the game was a touchdown pass to Jesse Clifton from seven yards on fourth down. The PAT knotted it 7-7 with over nine minutes to go in the half.
Again using a short field, Richmond wasted little time to score and retake the lead. Hodges captained a seven-play, 55-yard drive.
Three straight completions to senior Jayden Hamilton, junior Jasiah Cooper and Morrison moved the sticks down to the Scotland 18-yard line.
Covington nearly scored on the next play when he powered down the left sideline and was pushed out at the two-yard line. A false start backed Richmond up, which scored on the next play.
This time it was Crowder straight up the gut of the Scotland defense, blistering his way in from seven yards out. Veach was good again on the PAT to give Richmond a 14-7 advantage with 6:50 to go in the second stanza.
Scotland’s final score of the half knotted the game again less than two minutes later, a rushing score by Tjurian White.
Just getting warmed up, the Raiders’ offense needed just three plays to leapfrog the Scots again.
On first-and-10 from Richmond’s 49-yard line, Hodges hit Morrison in stride for a 51-yard touchdown pass. With a burst of speed, Morrison burned the one defensive back between him and the end zone to score his first six points of the season.
For the final time of the half, Veach split the uprights. Richmond held a 21-14 lead with 4:09 left.
That passing score was the start of the pivotal 14-second span that distanced the Raiders. On Scotland’s next play from scrimmage at its own 26-yard line, a batted ball at the line of scrimmage floated into the hands of Covington.
Reversing field, Covington picked up several key blocks as he rounded the right edge of the line and ran approximately 30 yards to the end zone.
Going for two points, Hodges kept the ball and tucked his shoulder to fall past the goal line. That extended Richmond’s lead to 29-14 with 3:55 on the clock.
The Scots threatened to score before the break, but the Richmond defense held tough. Thwarting a fourth-and-goal from the four-yard line, senior defensive back Domonic Tillman broke up a pass attempt in the right flat.
Scotland’s offensive woes continued on the first drive of the second half, which was a quick three-and-out forced by the Raiders. A bad snap on fourth down on Richmond’s first drive gave the ball back to the Scots at the Raiders’ six-yard line.
Again, the defense stood tall and kept Scotland off the board. On fourth-and-goal from the two, Spencer and senior Daylyn Robinson broke through the line to stack freshman running back Mike McLean short of the goal line.
That stop led to Richmond’s final scoring drive, a 12-play, 97-yard haul that ran out most of the third-quarter clock.
Crowder picked up gains of 14 and 28 yards on back-to-back runs to get out to the Richmond 44-yard line. A pitch and a pass to Cooper moved Richmond into Scotland territory.
A big connection from Hodges to Hamilton for a 26-yard gain put the Raiders in the red zone.
Following a false start, Hodges and Pegues connected for an 11-yard passing score. Pegues muscled his way into the end zone from several yards out.
Following Veach’s PAT with 2:01 left in the third, the Raiders held their largest lead of the game, 36-14.
The last score of the night was a desperation score by the Scots with 27 seconds to go in regulation against Richmond’s subs. Scoring for the first time was McLean.
Getting back to the .500 mark on the season, Richmond (1-1) will have another early-season test at home next Friday.
The Raiders will host Rolesville High School (0-2) in a rematch of last season’s third-round playoff game. Richmond and the reigning 4A state runner-up will kick off at 7:30 p.m.
The Richmond Observer will publish a photo gallery of Friday’s rivalry week win over the weekend.
Sports editor’s note: No official statistics were available at the time of publication.
