ROCKINGHAM — Old habits die hard and one of those regularities for the Richmond Senior High School football team is to meet with rival Scotland High School on the gridiron each fall.
The latest edition between the neighboring county rivals will look a little different in 2025. Instead of cooler temps and playoff implications in the final week of the regular season, the Raiders will host the Fighting Scots in Week 2.
Even with the shake up due to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s reclassification, Richmond head coach Brad Denson expects the late-summer showdown to still carry the feel of the old tradition with the addition of a few new twists.
“This game has historically been one of the biggest rivalries in the state and we want to keep it that way,” Denson commented. “There is a ton of respect for their program, but when it comes down to it, we really don’t like each other between the lines.
“Throw the records out and all, this game is one you don't want to miss. It’s also one that is not over until that final horn sounds. I think it’s really cool that this game is being played in the first week of school. It’s a little different, but it's still Richmond and Scotland at Raider Stadium.”
With each program on either of the .500 mark to start the season, Richmond will be looking to hand Scotland and head coach Richard Bailey their first loss of the season.
In what will be the 58th all-time meeting between the two schools, Richmond holds a 40-16-1 record over the Fighting Scots. The Raiders have won five of the last seven meetings, including back-to-back wins in 2023 and 2024.
Hoping to replicate a 30-6 bruising of Scotland last season, Richmond is entering Week 2 after it lost a fourth-quarter lead last week against a fourth-round playoff team. Scotland, which narrowly defeated Dillon High School to open the season, is eyeing a 2-0 start.
Another wrinkle in this year’s meeting is that this is the least amount of time Richmond and Scotland have had to prepare for one another in a long time, specifically watching film and seeing each other against other opponents.
Denson was quick to take responsibility for the Raiders’ loss to Hoggard last week and said the team has been making the necessary adjustments in practice to right those wrongs. He also said Richmond has cut out the extra noise and is getting back to its brand of football.
“We have made sure to pay more attention to detail in everything that we do,” Denson explained. “All the way down to how the locker room looks when we walk out to go to practice.
“There is a standard that we have and we will stick to that standard in all that we do. The guys have practiced hard, even with it being the first week of school. We have done all we can to control what we can control, which is us.”
When the Fighting Scots enter Raider Stadium, they’ll bring an aggressive rushing attack that is on brand for their program. The message from Denson on the key to success was simply put by the second-year head coach.
“We must stop the run,” Denson said. “They have three guys who can tote it and all three vary in what they can do. They are downhill and it's really going to test us.”
Those three players are seniors Deondre Braddy and Tjurian White, along with freshman Mike McLean, the latter of whom recently received an offer from the University of North Carolina.
While the majority of Scotland’s offense will run through the backfield, the Raider defense isn’t forgetting about the Fighting Scots’ ability to make impactful passing plays.
“Our DBs must stay disciplined because they will lull them to sleep with the run and hit that big pass play. They aren't throwing the ball to get five yards, they are throwing it to score when they do.”
Denson added that “their offensive line “is big, not the most athletic, but big.” In terms of Richmond’s defense, he said it has to “stay disciplined and play our keys” to avoid a breakaway scoring run.
The Raiders’ offense showed off its playmaking abilities and veteran skillset against Hoggard in Week 1 before running out of time. This go-around, Richmond hopes to be able to move the football against a defense that allowed 33 points against Dillon.
“I really like their inside linebackers,” Denson said. “They are quick to read it and get to the ball well. They will rotate several guys in on the defensive line and they, too, are all different bodies with different abilities.
“Scotland’s DBs are very athletic and rely on the box to stop the run. They want to keep everything in front of them and force us to put drives together. We can’t get greedy and we must protect the ball to sustain drives. Third downs on both sides of the ball will be crucial.”
Kickoff between the Raiders (0-1) and the Fighting Scots (1-0) is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Advance tickets ($11) can be purchased by visiting GoFan.co. Cash tickets ($10) will also be sold at the gate.
“Having Scotland as the home opener in week one of school is a change, but sometimes change is good,” Denson closed.
“Coach Bailey and myself knew we had to keep this rivalry going, not only for the communities, but financially for each school as well. We expect a good crowd to be on hand for what should be another great rivalry game.”
To read more about Richmond’s game day plan and safety information, click here.
Sports editor’s note: Stats were not available on Scotland’s MaxPreps page.
