Richmond looking to build around new, young core
Posted July 7, 2022 8:00 a.m. EDT
Rockingham, N.C. — Richmond head coach Bryan Till is quick to acknowledge that the standards in Rockingham for football are higher than in most other places.
As he recounts the Raiders' 2021 season, he reflects on the hectic nature it took on as it felt like a continuation of the spring season which had been postponed from the fall of 2020.
"It kind of went by really fast," he said. "Any time around here you don't go all the way to the state championship game... Kind of left a bad taste in our mouth at the end of the season."
The Raiders had a great year, going 10-2 and sweeping the conference in the regular season, but they fell victim to a 19-14 upset against Leesville Road in the second round of the 4A playoffs.
That loss stung due to the sheer amount of seniors that comprised last season's team.
"Everything they dealt with the last couple years, talk about being proud of those guys as young men," he said. "When it's all said and done... people forget your record over time, but they don't forget the impact you had on them."
This year will be the first time in a while that the Raiders won't have a Hood brother at quarterback, with Caleb and Kellan at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Stepping in will be senior Emoni McBride, who has been waiting his turn as a JV quarterback and backup.
McBride got limited playing time last season, and he'll be joined in the backfield by running back Taye Spencer, who ran for 792 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior.
It may not be the most experienced backfield the Raiders have had of late, but Till expects an offensive line filled with size and talent to make their jobs much easier.
"We're really big up front," he said. "That helps us... that gives those skill kids some really good confidence in what's in front of them."
It will be an almost entirely new unit for Richmond at wide receiver, as well, led by sophomores Raymond Knotts and Linden Garcia along with senior Jadden Jenks.
The defense returns some key pieces, including sophomore Joe Parson who will be the inside linebacker after receiving playing time at outside linebacker his freshman year.
For however young and inexperienced this Raider team may be, the team's schedule will afford them no time to ease into things.
The Raiders open with spring 2021 3AA state champion Mount Tabor before taking on a strong Butler program. Those games are followed by contests against reigning 4A state champion Cardinal Gibbons and perennial power South View.
"First thing you've got to see is the competitiveness when it gets tough," Till said of the schedule. "It's gonna get tough. It's not a question of if, it's when... We want to continue to see that fight and see those kids' resolve."
Things could very well continue to get tough in conference play when the Raiders will be challenged by Scotland, Pinecrest, Hoke County and Lee County.
The hope in Rockingham will be that the early tests in the non-conference will allow the team to grow up and gel together well enough to allow them to win another conference championship.
