JV Raiders’ season-opening loss decided in final minutes

ROCKINGHAM — The first action of high school football this school year started with the Richmond junior varsity team Thursday and a game that came down to the final 64 seconds.

Beginning their season against a tough Seventy-First High School squad, the JV Raiders came up just short in a 14-6 defeat.

Falling to the JV Falcons to start each of the past two seasons, Richmond and head coach Patrick Hope battled back in the fourth quarter to tie the game.

Richmond started the game by recovering an onside kick at the Seventy-First 31-yard line.

Freshman running back Ty Covington burst ahead for a 16-yard gain on the first play from scrimmage, but a fumbled exchange two plays later saw the JV Falcons take over at their own 13-yard line.

A seven-play drive by Seventy-Field resulted in a punt and the JV Raiders took over at their own 41-yard line.

A short run by Covington was followed by a short-yardage pass from sophomore quarterback BJ Hinson to sophomore wide receiver Juelz Smith. Following a four-yard run by Covington, Richmond earned a first down.

The JV Falcons were flagged for defensive pass interference, which moved Richmond to the Seventy-First 30-yard line. Despite the deep drive, the JV Raiders couldn’t convert and had to punt.

A three-and-out by Seventy-First started the second quarter, which began a string of punts by both teams.

Richmond took over with 6:40 remaining in the first half at its own 44-yard line. Facing a fourth-and-four, the JV Raiders failed to convert near midfield.

The JV Falcons went 20 yards on six plays, but turned the ball over on downs at the Richmond 29-yard line. The JV Raiders ran a pair of plays before the first half expired with no score.

Getting possession to start the third quarter, Richmond went three-and-out. Responding with its first score, Seventy-First went 58 yards on 11 plays. On fourth-and-goal from the 10-yard line, the JV Falcons connected on a passing score.

The two-point conversion was no good, keeping Richmond’s deficit to 6-0 with 3:08 to play in the third quarter.

A long kickoff return by freshman Donovan Jones started Richmond across midfield at the JV Falcons’ 42-yard line. After an incomplete pass, Covington picked up 13 yards to move the chains.

Sophomore quarterback Collin Hill, who went 6-for-9 passing with 22 yards in his debut, made a completion to Smith for 10 yards to move the chains again and end the third quarter.

Driving at the Seventy-First 33-yard line, Jones ran for two yards and was followed by Covington with a pair of gains totaling 19 yards to get down to the 12-yard line.

But another fumbled exchange cost Richmond prime field position as the JV Falcons made a stop in the red zone.

A quick stand by the JV Raiders’ defense forced a punt and sophomore returner Jasiah Cooper brought it back to the 15-yard line, setting up Richmond’s scoring drive.

Hill ran for a five-yard gain and a late hit penalty moved the ball to the six-yard line. Covington ran three straight plays before punching it in from a yard out.

After a failed conversion attempt, the score stayed tied 6-6 with 6:07 left in regulation.

Able to run down the clock, Seventy-First put together a game-winning 65-yard drive on 10 plays. With a successful two-point conversion, the JV Falcons took the lead 14-6 with 1:04 to go.

Despite having good field position at its 46-yard line, Richmond ran four plays but picked up negative yardage as time expired.

Defensively, sophomore Konner Gardner had a touchdown-saving tackle on a punt return in the first quarter.

Fellow sophomore Kaleb Brown stopped a receiver from picking up a first down with an open-field tackle on a third down attempt to force one of the second-quarter three-and-outs.

As a unit, the JV Raiders’ defense limited Seventy-First to no gain or negative yards on 16 different plays.

Covington finished the game with 65 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown. Cooper made three catches for three yards, sophomore Nyjier Allen made one grab for eight yards and Smith hauled in two passes for 12 yards.

The JV Raiders (0-1) will hit the road next Thursday for a non-conference game at Butler High School (0-0). Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m.

Sports editor’s note: Deon Cranford contributed all unofficial stats and game details to this article. Photos contributed by Cranford and Camden Ratliff.