ROCKINGHAM — What has proven to be a rollercoaster start through the first four weeks of the season for the Richmond Senior High School football team will see its first half come to an end Friday.
Set to complete their five-game schedule against non-conference teams to begin the new campaign, the Raiders will return home and host what head coach Brad Denson considers to be another tough quality opponent.
Looking to build momentum heading into their Week 6 bye, the Raiders will host West Forsyth High School. Friday’s meeting will be the first between the two football programs since they met in 2012.
The Raiders are back in action this week following a 21-point win on the road over Northwest Guilford High School. That win got the team back to .500, a record Richmond hopes to improve upon under its home stadium lights in Week 5.
When asked what he wanted to see most from the team against the Titans, Denson stuck to the basics he believes, if done correctly, will lead to a victory.
“It’s simple,” Denson said plainly. “We need to play a complete game and play with relentless effort on every single play while doing what we are coached to do,” Denson said. “Nothing more is needed.”
Richmond’s relentless effort hasn’t been a question this season, as the Raiders have hung with some of the best 8A schools in the state despite suffering losses to Hoggard and Rolesville high schools.
The building blocks have continued to take shape for the Raiders through the first four weeks, culminating in a successful aerial attack and high-scoring win last Friday.
While acknowledging each game presents its own sets of circumstances and challenges, Denson said the Raiders are preparing for a West Forsyth squad that is among the best of the best.
“West Forsyth is a lot like a Rolesville or a Hoggard team,” Denson explained. “They are coached very well and have dudes all over the field. They have been tested with some of their opponents and will come in here ready to go.
“These guys are another 8A school that is ranked very highly. Teams don’t get ranked up toward the top for nothing. You have to win and you have to have that projectability. West Forsyth has all of that.”
The Titans will bring a run-heavy offense into Raider Stadium, which contrasts with Richmond’s offense, but is something the Raiders’ defense has been able to defend this season. Against Scotland High School, Richmond slowed down a three-running back attack en route to victory.
Of the team’s 18 total offensive scores this season, 15 touchdowns have been the result of the running game.
West Forsyth’s leading ball carrier is Mozes Morris, one of four running backs with more than 100 yards on the ground this season. He’s carried the ball 45 times for 415 yards, is averaging 103.8 yards per game and has scored eight touchdowns.
Other running backs Richmond will prepare for are Darrell Page (25 carries, 189 yards), Braylen Marrow (10 carries, 109 yards) and Ja’Mare Shephard (15 carries, 101 yards). Marrow is second on the team with four rushing scores.
Quarterback Haines Robitzer, while not much of a threat on the ground, has completed 49-of-76 passes for 625 yards and three scores. Wide receiver Jailyn Moore has caught two of those touchdowns and Marrow has pulled in the other.
“We must stop the run game,” Denson said. “We have to fit it correctly and rally to the ball, hence that relentless effort. No. 3 (Marrow) at running back is a special player and can cut with the best of them. We have to put the net around him and limit those cutback lanes.
“They have a rather large line and we will have to play well in the box. They also have two or three receivers who can play as well. Nos. 5, 2 and 1 are all playmakers and their quarterback will RPO the run game to these guys and really make us pay if we aren't disciplined in everything that we do.”
Of being able to do that, Denson added he has “confidence in our staff and players to do what is needed to do to get a win.”
Richmond’s defense has held opponents to 27.0 points through the first four games, and that median will be put to the test against a Titans offense that is averaging 38.3 points per game, including 45 and 49 points, respectively, in the past two games.
Continuing to have a breakout season in his first as a starter, senior linebacker Jermaine Bright leads the team with 42 total tackles. Senior edge Terande Spencer has 35 total tackles and the two Raiders each have recorded 9.0 tackles for loss.
As a team, Richmond has brought down opposing quarterbacks 16 times this season and Spencer (5.0) and Bright (4.0) are atop the stat sheet in sacks. Freshman Cam’ron Coley (3.0) and senior Jordan Hamilton (2.0) have added to the pressure in the box.
Richmond’s defense, which didn’t record any takeaways against Northwest Guilford, will try to get back in that column against the Titans.
On the other side of the ball, West Forsyth’s defense is a looming group of 11 players that Denson didn’t shy away from giving credit to, especially along the defensive line.
Two players Richmond’s offensive line will try to contain are defensive ends PJ Dean and Daviel Eldridge. Leading the team with 26 total tackles is Eldridge, who also tops the list in tackles-for-loss (10.0).
Dean has recorded 12 tackles and is second on the team with 5.0 TFLs. Eldridge and Dean are tied with fellow lineman Demarcus Simmons for the team lead with 2.0 sacks.
Marrow, a two-way player, has recorded three of the Titans’ four interceptions this season.
“The defensive line is the strength of their defense and they are anchored by No. 88 (Dean) and No. 99 (Eldridge),” Denson noted. “They are their defensive ends and are really good players. They have the length, the size and the strength. It will be another huge test for our offensive line.
“I have been really impressed with our guys up front all year, especially playing against the fronts that we have been going against. West Forsyth will mix the coverages on the back end, so we will have to decipher that to be successful. Converting on third down and taking care of the football will be crucial for us to come out with a win.”
Through four games this season, the Raiders are averaging 29.8 points per game, a number that will be contested against a West Forsyth defense that’s allowing just 18.5 points against this fall.
One offensive catalyst that Richmond’s offense will continue to rely on is senior quarterback Evan Hodges, who is flying high after a career performance against Northwest Guilford last week.
Hodges threw for single-game career-highs in touchdowns (5) and passing yards (375 yards), while completing 14-of-20 passes. He connected with four different receivers, including senior wideout Amer Morrison twice, to find the end zone.
Through four games, Hodges has thrown for 971 passing yards (242.8 yards per game) and is ranked No. 2 in that category in the 7A classification. In the entire state, Hodges is ranked eighth in total passing.
Three of Richmond’s top five receivers this season have already amassed more than 200 receiving yards and double-digit catches — seniors Jayden Hamilton (12 catches, 282 yards), Amer Morrison (12 catches, 272 yards) and Keonta Pegues (13 catches, 206 yards).
Junior Jasiah Cooper leads the team with 16 grabs this season and has 192 receiving yards, with junior running back Chance Crowder just behind him with 10 catches for 137 yards.
Jayden Hamilton and Morrison’s three receiving touchdowns each lead the team. Pegues and Crowder have both caught two TDs and Cooper scored his first receiving touchdown of the season last week.
“Coming out of non-conference with a 3-2 record would be a huge thing for us,” Denson noted. “This five-game stretch has to be one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the state. Hoggard, Rolesville and West Forsyth are all 8A teams and each one is ranked in the top 15 in the state.
“Hoggard and Rolesville will probably win out on the rest of the year, as well. Scotland will continue to win games too.
“We have to protect our home field and one of the biggest ways that happens is with the help of the Raider faithful,” he closed. “We need all of Raider Nation to show up and show out for our guys. We only have two conference games at home, so the chance to see these guys here in Raider Stadium is limited. Again, a win Friday night will be huge for us going forward and in the RPI rankings for the playoffs.”
The Raiders (2-2) and Titans (3-1) kickoff Friday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online through GoFan ($11) or with cash at the gate ($10).
