PHOTOS: Midnight Madness marks start to Raider football’s season

ROCKINGHAM — Brad Denson’s message was clear early Thursday morning as the Richmond Raider football program closed its second official practice of the 2024 season.

“I can’t wait,” was Denson’s opening line to the varsity and junior varsity players, alluding to the upcoming season.

Abuzz with energy, Raider Stadium played host to Richmond’s Midnight Madness event, a two-for-one deal that got the team’s first two helmet-only practices in the books.

Wednesday marked the first official day of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s fall sports season. Denson and company took advantage with a late-night practice followed by an early-morning session.

Starting Wednesday at 10 p.m., the varsity and junior varsity teams ran a complete traditional practice that lasted an hour and 45 minutes. Players and coaches worked through drills by position groups before practicing special teams and whole team concepts.

Following a 15-minute break complete with popsicles, the squads split up and began their second practice at midnight Thursday. For 30 minutes the offenses and defenses faced off in 7-on-7 scrimmages while the linemen competed in a series of challenges at midfield.

Both teams will have off until Friday morning when the Raiders will go full throttle and begin daily practices. Friday will mark three weeks to the day until the regular-season opener at Seventy-First High School.

Richmond will scrimmage South Garner High School Friday, Aug. 9, at 10 a.m. on the Raiders’ practice field.

The Richmond Observer will publish a season preview, complete with a schedule and video interviews, in the coming weeks.

Below are photos of Wednesday’s and Thursday’s football practices, taken by sports editor Kyle Pillar.