ROCKINGHAM — The Richmond Senior High School junior varsity football team shut out the other team in the first half, but they gave up points in the last two quarters of Wednesday’s game.
Because of bad weather, the JV Raiders had to play a day earlier than planned, and their four-game winning streak ended.
The game at Pinecrest High School had two halves. Richmond had a nine-point lead at halftime, but the JV Patriots beat them 22–9.
Richmond scored all of its points in the first half, which head coach Patrick Hope called “opportunistic.” The defense scored all of those points.
Hope said that Pinecrest gained momentum after another mistake on special teams at the beginning of the third quarter and an offensive drive that stopped in the red zone in the second quarter.
In the third quarter, the JV Patriots scored twice on the ground and made a try to score with two points. Pinecrest scored one more touchdown on the ground and added another two-point play in the last quarter.
Both teams lost a fumble on their first play in the first half, which was mostly dominated by the JV Raiders’ defense. Following the start of the game, sophomore defensive back Shamir Jones tripped and fell on a loose ball after a backward pass hit the ground.
Richmond’s first drive began at its own 41-yard line, but first-year running back Ty Covington fumbled the ball after only three plays.
Pinecrest (4-1, 1-0 SAC) got deep into Richmond territory, but Richmond’s junior cornerback Michael Mack was ready.
On third-and-long from the JV Raiders’ 31-yard line, Mack picked off a pass that was tipped at the line. He was in the red zone. Mack won the foot race down the left corner for the pick-six as he came out from among the jerseys.
As of 6:10 left in the first quarter, freshman kicker Jake Gardner made a field goal that made it 7-0.
In the first half, Richmond’s defense caused three turnovers, one on downs, and a safety. The end of Pinecrest’s last show happened when the clock ran out.
The JV Raiders’ attack got inside the red zone but was stopped on fourth-and-goal at the one-yard line. The defense then scored some more points. On fourth down, sophomore QB Collin Hill kept the ball but was stopped just short of the goal line.
On the next play for the JV Patriots, a bunch of defense players blocked a run and pushed the player with the ball back into the end zone.
It was 9-0 with 8:33 left in the second quarter after the safety scored two points.
Pinecrest couldn’t score in the second half because rookie defensive back CJ Covington picked off a long pass attempt at the JV Raiders’ one-yard line.
Richmond’s offense had some good plays, but three of their four first-half runs ended in fumbles, turnovers on downs, and punts.
Ty Covington kicked the second of the two punts from the back line of the end zone, giving the JV Raiders some breathing room before the half.
Richmond got the ball to start the second half, but they went three and out. In the second half, the JV Raiders had six drives that ended in failure. They had two failed punts, two turnovers on downs, an interception, and a fake punt try that didn’t work.
A high snap went over Ty Covington’s head on the first play, but he caught it at the Richmond three-yard line.
Pinecrest scored in just two plays. On first down, sophomore safety Adan King stopped the play without giving up any yardage. However, Tyler Johnson scored on a three-yard run, cutting Richmond’s lead.
Johnson scored three times on the ground in the second half. The PAT try went wrong, and CJ Covington made the tackle to keep the lead at 9-6.
The JV Raiders tried to punt after another three-and-out, but Ty Covington dropped the ball, and the Ravens took it back at the 25-yard line.
Johnson scored on a one-yard run to end a five-play scoring drive. He also made the two-point try with 6:26 left in the third that put Pinecrest ahead 14–9.
The JV Raiders tried something new after going three and out three times in a row to start the half. On fourth-and-24, CJ Covington took a direct snap and almost made the fake punt, but was stopped a couple of yards short after a long run down the right corner.
Late in the third quarter, junior quarterback BJ Hinson threw an interception in the middle of the field. Two plays later, Pinecrest scored after converting on fourth down.
And this time, Johnson punched it in from one yard out. He also found a hole in the line to add two points. RVA was behind 22–9 with 3:03 left in the game.
On the JV Raiders’ last drive, which began at the Pinecrest 35-yard line after a long return by junior Jasiah Cooper, both Hill and Hinson had chances to play quarterback.
On third down, Hill hit Hinson for 20 yards, which brought the team down to the 15-yard line. The next four plays, including a fourth-down pass to CJ Covington in the end zone, all failed to go through the air.
When Pinecrest got the ball back, they ran three running plays to end the game.
The JV Raiders (4-2, 1-0 SAC) will play at Hoke County High School next Thursday, which will be their first away game in three weeks. The game will start at 6:30 p.m.