The Richmond football team released its 2009 football schedule as the Raiders move to an “old” new conference.

Richmond will return to the Southeastern Conference where the school played at before moving into the Mid-Southeastern Conference in 2001. The Raiders captured seven of the eight MSEC conference titles.

“We had eight great years in the previous conference,” Raiders coach Paul Hoggard said. “The Fayetteville teams had some great teams we went up against in that conference.”

Before entering conference play on Oct. 9 at Hoke County, the Raiders have six straight non-conference matchups.

Richmond opens the season at Providence in Charlotte on Aug. 21 at 7:30 p.m.

The following week the Raiders play host to Lee County on Aug. 28 and travel to Anson on Sept. 4. Richmond returns home to play Butler on Sept. 11, before traveling to South View on Sept. 18 and wrapping up its non-conference schedule at home against New Hanover on Sept. 25.

“Our non-conference schedule is a bear,” Hoggard said. “It’s a tough schedule opening up at Providence, which is a very good football team. Lee County just got a new coach, who has been coaching for over 30 years and has been successful everywhere he has been.

“Anson is coming off a great year where it was very close to going to the (3-AA) state championship game. Everyone knows Butler is loaded and they’ve been very good year in and year out. South View has always had dominant teams over the years and New Hanover as well. It’s a good thing we have an open date before conference play begins. We might have to do a lot of healing up.”

Richmond will finish the regular season with road dates at Pinecrest on Oct. 30 and the season-finale at Scotland on Nov. 6.

The Patriots upset the Raiders 31-28 last season at Raider Stadium, while the Scots will look to bounce back following a disappointing 2-9 record last season.

“Those are going to be two big games,” Hoggard said. “Pinecrest has done a tremendous job, and it’s amazing how far coach (Chris) Metzger has brought their program. Of course, our rising seniors have never beaten Pinecrest. They lost during their JV year, and this past year on homecoming. That will be an interesting game. Scotland was down last year, but that will be short-lived. I’m expecting them to be one of the better teams in the state this year. It’s great that game is going to be the last regular season game.”

All games begin at 7:30 p.m. All games in bold are conference games.

Aug. 21 at Providence

Aug. 28 Lee County

Sept. 4 at Anson

Sept. 11 Butler

Sept. 18 at South View

Sept. 25 New Hanover (homecoming)

Oct. 2 Open

Oct. 9 at Hoke

Oct. 16 Purnell Swett

Oct. 23 Lumberton (Senior Night)

Oct. 30 at Pinecrest

Nov. 6 at Scotland

n Contact sports reporter Corey Davis at 997-3111, ext. 44; e-mail cdavis@yourdailyjournal.com