Tale of two halves snaps JV Raiders’ 4-game winning streak

ROCKINGHAM — A first-half shutout by the Richmond Senior High School junior varsity football team was undone during the final two quarters of Wednesday’s game.

Playing a day earlier than expected due to the threat of inclement weather, the JV Raiders saw their four-game winning streak come to an end.

Hosting Pinecrest High School in what proved to be a tale of two halves, Richmond let a nine-point lead at halftime result in a 22-9 loss to the JV Patriots.

Head coach Patrick Hope said an “opportunistic” first half yielded all of Richmond’s points, which were all courtesy of the defense.

Hope said a stalled offensive drive in the red zone in the second quarter, coupled with back-to-back miscues on special teams to start the third quarter, allowed the momentum to shift in Pinecrest’s favor.

The JV Patriots scored twice on the ground in the third quarter and were successful on a two-point conversion. In the final quarter, Pinecrest added one final rushing score and another two-point play.

In a first half dominated by the JV Raiders’ defense, both teams lost a fumble on their respective opening drive. Sophomore defensive back Shamir Jones fell on a loose ball after a backward pass hit the grass a few plays after the opening kickoff.

Richmond’s first drive started at its own 41-yard line, but just three plays later, freshman running back Ty Covington coughed it up.

Pinecrest (4-1, 1-0 SAC) drove down deep into Richmond territory but sophomore cornerback Michael Mack had an answer.

On third-and-long from the JV Raiders’ 31-yard line, a pass attempt was tipped at the line and picked off by Mack inside the red zone. Emerging out of a flurry of jerseys, Mack won the foot race down the left sideline for the pick-six.

Freshman kicker Jake Gardner split the uprights to make it 7-0 with 6:10 left in the first quarter.

Richmond’s defense forced three takeaways, a turnover on downs and a safety in the first half. Pinecrest’s final series ended with the expiration of the clock.

After the JV Raiders’ offense drove inside the red zone and was stopped on fourth-and-goal at the one-yard line, the defense put up another set of points. Sophomore quarterback Collin Hill kept the ball on fourth down, but was stopped short of the goal line.

On the JV Patriots’ next play, a horde of defensive players stacked up a rushing attempt and pushed the ball carrier back into the end zone.

The safety added a pair of points to make it a 9-0 lead with 8:33 to go in the second stanza.

Picking off a long pass attempt at the JV Raiders’ one-yard line, freshman defensive back CJ Covington stopped Pinecrest and kept the visitors scoreless later in the second.

Richmond’s offense moved the ball at times but saw its four first-half drives end on a fumble, a turnover on downs and two punts.

The latter of the two punts was booted by Ty Covington from the back line of the end zone, successfully giving the JV Raiders some breathing room before the half.

Richmond received the second-half kickoff but went three-and-out. It was the first of six second-half drives that came up empty for the JV Raiders, which featured two botched punt attempts, two turnovers on downs, an interception and an unsuccessful fake punt attempt.

On the first drive, a high snap went over Ty Covington’s head and he recovered it at the Richmond three-yard line.

Pinecrest needed just two plays to score. Sophomore safety Adan King made a stop on first down for no gain, but a three-yard rushing score by Tyler Johnson cut into Richmond’s lead.

It was the first of Johnson’s three second-half rushing scores. The PAT attempt was bobbled and CJ Covington made the tackle to preserve a 9-6 lead.

Another three-and-out led to a punt attempt for the JV Raiders, which was dropped by Ty Covington and turned the ball over at the Richmond 25-yard line.

Johnson capped a five-play scoring drive with a one-yard rushing touchdown. He also converted the two-point try to put Pinecrest ahead 14-9 with 6:26 to go in the third.

The JV Raiders tried something different after their third straight three-and-out on offense to start the half. CJ Covington took a direct snap and nearly converted the fake punt attempt on fourth-and-24, but was stopped a couple yards short after a long run down the right sideline.

Early in the fourth quarter, sophomore quarterback BJ Hinson threw an interception at midfield. A series later, Pinecrest converted on fourth down and scored two plays afterward.

This time Johnson punched it in from a yard out and also found a hole in the line for the two-point conversion. With 3:03 left in the game, Richmond trailed 22-9.

Hill and Hinson both got opportunities under center on the JV Raiders’ final drive, which started at the Pinecrest 35-yard line following a long return by sophomore Jasiah Cooper.

On third down, Hill connected with Hinson for a 20-yard gain to get down to the 15-yard line. But pass attempts on the next four plays all came up empty, including a fourth-down toss to CJ Covington in the end zone.

Pinecrest got the ball back and ran a trio of rushing plays to let the clock expire.

The JV Raiders (4-2, 1-1 SAC) will play on the road for the first time in three weeks next Thursday at Hoke County High School. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m.

Sports editor’s note: Official game statistics were not available at the time of publication. A photo gallery of Wednesday’s game will be published later this week.