The Richmond Senior junior varsity football team didn’t show any rust following its bye week.

Richmond scored on six of their first seven possessions after Hoke led 6-0 and cruised to a 41-14 victory over the Bucks Thursday night at Raider Stadium.

The victory improved Richmond’s record to 5-1 on the season and allowed the team to gain its first Southeastern Conference win. The Raiders scored their most points in the first half this season, leading 34-6 at the break.

“This was by far our best first-half performance of the season,” JV Raiders coach Steve Wood said. “Everything just clicked for us and I was proud of how the team came out with the right intensity. We had two good weeks of practice, and it was the best off week of practice by a team I ever coached.”

The Bucks came out ready as Sh-donta Jones returned the opening kickoff 86 yards deep in Richmond’s territory. Quarterback John Ford’s 1-yard touchdown run gave Hoke a 6-0 lead with 10:32 remaining in the first quarter.

“We had a coverage breakdown, they took advantage and was able to punch it in the end zone,” Wood said.

But that turned out to be the last bright spot for Hoke as Richmond then took controlled from there.

On Richmond’s first possession, Steve Houston capped a four-play drive with a 60-yard touchdown run. Todd Inman’s extra point gave the Raiders a 7-6 lead with 8:10 left in the quarter.

Hoke was forced to punt deep in its own territory on its next possession and Richmond started its next drive on Hoke’s 33-yard line. Raheem Ellerbe’s 22-yard run placed the Raiders at the Bucks’ 11. Daryl Locklear finished off the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, increasing Richmond’s lead to 14-6.

The Raiders’ defense forced turnovers on Hoke’s next two possessions. On third-and-11 at its own 28, Ford fumbled the ball after being sacked by Richmond’s Kevin Rorie.

The Raiders capitalized on Hoke’s miscue as Houston’s 4-yard touchdown run pushed the lead to 21-6 in the second quarter.

On the following possession, Hoke drove to the Raiders’ 17, but Donald Womack fumbled and the ball was recovered by Richmond.

“We stepped up and made plays on defense that we weren’t making earlier in the year,” Wood said.

The Raiders used a big passing play to set up the next score as Brandon Dawkins connected with Shun Bloomfield on a 94-yard pass, giving Richmond a 28-6 advantage.

The Raiders capped the first half onslaught as Ellerbe’s 27-yard touchdown run gave Richmond a 28-point lead at the break.

The Raiders scored on their opening drive in the third on Ridge Sato 1-yard plunge.

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