Passing game too much for Raiders at Cardinal Gibbons

RALEIGH — Knowing Friday’s third game of the season would require a mistake-free effort, the Richmond Senior High School football team wasn’t able to pull off an upset on the road.

Seeking their second straight win against a ranked opponent, the Raiders committed a few costly errors that resulted in a 31-13 loss at Cardinal Gibbons High School.

A defense that had four takeaways a week ago struggled to get pressure on the Crusaders’ mobile offense. Unable to consistently get into the backfield, the Raider defense allowed several large-yardage plays.

Head coach Brad Denson also pointed to Richmond’s offense limiting itself despite being able to move the ball with efficiency at certain times of the game.

Richmond lost possession three times on turnovers. They were all fumbles, including one each in the offensive and defensive red zones.

Defensive coordinator Chris Campolieta added that he took responsibility for the game planning and lack of execution on defense.

The Crusaders (2-0) took just eight plays off the opening kickoff to score its first touchdown less than three minutes into the game.

Going 68 yards, the drive ended when quarterback Gannon Jones hit wide receiver Samuel Dodd for a 39-yard passing score over the middle.

The extra point attempt was good to make it 7-0 with 9:34 left on the clock.

Richmond’s slow start continued on the ensuing kickoff, which was fumbled and recovered by Cardinal Gibbons at the Raiders’ 12-yard line.

The stingy defense didn’t break and forced the Crusaders to go three-and-out and attempt a field goal.

The 26-yarder was good and Richmond’s deficit grew to 10 points with just under eight minutes left in the opening stanza.

Following empty drives by both teams, the Raiders managed to get on the scoreboard early in the second quarter.

Junior quarterback Domonic Tillman led the offense on 14-play, 94-yard drive that was aided by a defensive pass interference call and an offsides penalty.

A 17-yard catch and run by junior wide receiver Amer Morrison moved the ball close to midfield. Tillman kept the ball a couple plays later for a gain to get into Crusaders territory.

The DPI moved the sticks to the Cardinal Gibbons 24-yard line and five plays later the Raiders found pay dirt.

Tillman threw a screen to senior wide receiver Keyonta Davis to the right side and Davis did the rest for his first career touchdown.

Breaking several tackles, Davis carried three defenders with him for the 10-yard catch and run, extending the ball over the line.

Senior kicker Billy West chipped in the PAT and made it a 10-7 game with 7:18 remaining in the first half.

The passing game of Cardinal Gibbons, however, struck six plays later to open its lead back to 10 points.

This time, Jones threw a 25-yard score to Brayden Karras over the middle with 4:49 on the clock.

Richmond’s final two drives of the first half ended with a lost fumble by junior quarterback Evan Hodges in the red zone and with the expiration of the clock.

Just prior to the fumble, Hodges made a 33-yard completion to junior wideout Keonta Pegues to give the Raiders a shot at the end zone.

Similarly, on the final play of the half, junior wide receiver Jayden Hamilton made a 16-yard catch and run but was stopped at the Crusaders’ 19-yard line.

In each of its first two games, Richmond proved to be a second-half team, especially in the third quarter against Seventy-First and Butler high schools.

Receiving the second-half kickoff, Denson’s crafty play calling and the execution by the Raiders in some tight situations resulted in another trip to the red zone.

An 18-play drive chewed 9:34 off the third-quarter clock but the Raiders came up empty. With Hodges back under center, senior running back Jordan Bostick and Morrison both picked up first downs.

A keeper by Hodges moved possession across midfield and senior wide receiver Nicholas Griggs pulled in a second down catch to create a fourth-and-five situation after an incompletion.

At the Crusaders’ 39-yard line, the snap went to Hodges, who pitched it right to Pegues. Senior tiger back K’Mauri Morgan, who broke loose off the edge, caught a pass from Pegues to get down to the 22-yard line.

Hamilton caught another Hodges pass to set up first-and-10 at the 12-yard line. But a holding call, a false start and a sack by the Cardinal Gibbons defense backed Richmond up to the 25-yard line.

West was called on to attempt the 42-yard field goal. He was true on his line, but the kick was about six inches short, hitting the crossbar and getting an unfriendly bounce.

The Crusaders took over at their 20-yard line with 2:26 to go in the third. They went 80 yards in eight plays, ending in a two-yard rushing score by Conway Kelly early in the fourth quarter.

A series later, Cardinal Gibbons scored its final touchdown of the game. Jones completed a 39-yard pass to Sean Manuel over the middle.

The PAT was good to extend the lead to 31-7, Richmond’s largest deficit this season. It was also the third passing touchdown of at least 25 yards in the game.

Pegues capped the game’s scoring on a 64-yard catch and run from Hodges. Using his speed on a go route, Pegues created separation when a defensive back fell down.

Hodges dropped the pass right to Pegues along the far sideline, who hustled untouched into the end zone.

Going for the two-point conversion with 4:39 to play, Bostick took a direct snap but was stopped short.

West put down a nice onside kick attempt that bounced loose from the initial returner, but the Crusaders collected the ball. Cardinal Gibbons ran a series of short-yardage plays to let the clock expire.

Richmond (1-2) closes its non-conference schedule next Friday at home against Myers Park High School (0-2). The Raiders and Mustangs will kick off at 7:30 p.m.

The Richmond Observer will publish a photo gallery of Richmond’s road game at Cardinal Gibbons Saturday.

Sports editor’s note: Official stats and game totals were not available at the time of publication.