Purnell Swett fullback Jock Clark (44) weaves his way through Red Springs defenders. The Rams come into tonight’s game with a 7-0 overall record and a 1-0 Southeastern Conference mark.
Normally when there is an unbeaten team in conference play, it is usually the Raiders and the opponents are looking to hand them their first loss of the season.
This time, it is the fifth-ranked Raiders that will attempt to improve to 7-1 and give 7-0 Purnell Swett its first loss of the season when the two teams hook up at 7:30 p.m. at Raider Stadium.
Last week, Richmond opened Southeastern Conference play with a 49-20 victory over Hoke, while the Rams prevailed 38-37 against Scotland.
With both teams coming into the matchup 1-0 in the SEC, Raider coach Paul Hoggard knows it’s vital for his team to continue to keep pace in the conference.
“It would be great for us to start 2-0 and be on top of the conference,” Hoggard said. “We know this game is critical, but all of the conference games are important, especially when you only have six teams in the conference. You can’t have too many bad nights.”
The Rams have avoided any bad Friday nights so far this season. Swett has gotten off to the best start in school history, but Rams coach Mark Heil admitted the schedule hasn’t been tough.
“Honestly, we’ve played a soft non-conference schedule, and we’ve played teams within our county because of travel expenses,” Heil said. “We only returned five starters from last year and we have seven sophomores that play a lot. But the kids are growing up and developing a winning attitude. The fact that we’re undefeated right now has helped increased our confidence.”
Heil confessed there was some bickering amongst the players when Swett trailed Scotland 23-8 at halftime last week. But the Rams stormed back in the second half to squeak out the one-point victory.
“It was the first time we had been behind at the half, and Scotland was whipping our butts,” Heil said. “There was some finger-pointing going on, but we were able to regain our poise in the second half. We made a couple defensive adjustments and made some plays in the second half that helped us win the game.”
According to Heil, his team has no way of beating the defending champ Raiders, if Swett has a repeat performance.
“We haven’t played any team that’s the caliber of Richmond and it’s critical that we avoid getting off to a slow start, like we did against Scotland,” Heil said. “Their speed on both sides of the ball is awfully hard to match.”
Heil said Richmond’s offense is a well-oiled machine and will be difficult for his defense to stop. Heil added it’s significant that his offense be to put the ball in the end zone.
Swett has averaged 35.5 points per game, which is second to Richmond in the conference. Like Richmond, Swett’s offense is based around the running game.
While Richmond’s rushing attack is centered around the triple option, Swett prefers to the pound the ball out of the I-formation. Heil said the Rams’ run game is built around 5-foot-11, 245-pound senior fullback Jock Clark, who has amassed a team-leading 792 yards on 112 carries and nine touchdowns.
“He’s a big guy that they give it to every game,” Hoggard said. “He’s going to be coming right at us and we’ve
got to gang-tackle him. They will also use him in what everyone calls the ‘wildcat’ and run him out of that formation.”
Swett’s rushing game also features sophomore tailback Travon Clark, who has rushed for 416 yards on 78 attempts and two touchdowns. Rams starting quarterback Ethan Clark has accumulated 316 yards on 61 carries and nine scores. As a passer, Ethan Clark is 18-for-32 for 275 yards and has thrown three touchdowns and one interception.
According to Heil, Ethan Clark also returns kicks, and had a 79-yard kickoff return for a touchdown last week against Scotland.
“Their quarterback is a really good athlete, and he does a lot of things for them,” Hoggard said.
Hoggard explained Richmond’s small defensive line must be able to control the line of scrimmage and be ready to play smashmouth football.
Richmond defensive coordinator James Johnson added his front seven can’t allow Swett to have success running the ball on first down.
“We’re going to have to be a lot more physical, and we’ve got to keep them out of second or third and short yardage situations,” Johnson said. “They’re a type of team that wants to wear down defenses and chew up the clock. With them not being a big passing team, it’s going to be critical that we get them into third-and-long situations and dictate the game that way.”
Swett’s defense will attempt to slow down a Richmond’s offense averaging a conference leading 37.7 points a contest. Though Swett starts five sophomores, the unit has only allowed 11.4 points per game.
The defense is anchored by senior 5-foot-8, 185-pound outside linebacker Jarred Jacobs. Jacobs, who is the only returning starter from last year, has a team-leading 68 tackles on the season.
According to Hoggard, Swett
has good speed on defense and will rotate a lot players on its defensive line.
Heil said the line is anchored by 6-foot-3, 250-pound senior defensive tackle Jordan Jones and 6-foot-3, 215-pound sophomore defensive end Daniel Barron.
Hoggard added Richmond must run the ball effectively to keep from getting in long yardage downs because Swett does like to come with the blitz.
Last week, Scotland ran for a whopping 412 yards and Heil acknowledged Swett’s run defense must avoid allowing the Raiders’ option attack to burst long gains.
“If we play the run like we did against Scotland, Richmond is going to kill us with big plays,” Heil said. “We were so confused with our option responsibilities, and I did a terrible job of getting us prepared for it. Hopefully, we will be much more ready this time around. If we don’t stop Richmond running in between the tackles, it’s going to make their outside running game even better.”
Last year, Richmond blanked Swett 38-0 and haven’t lost to the Rams since 1994. Hoggard expects a physical contest, while Heil believes his team is excited about the opportunity to show that the Rams are the real deal.
“I love the setting and the atmosphere at Richmond,” Heil said. “Obviously, this is a big conference game and this is a game where we’re going to find out how we measure up against one of the elite in the state. Hopefully, our kids will be able to rise to the occasion.”
n Contact sports reporter Corey Davis at 997-3111, ext. 44; e-mail cdavis@yourdailyjournal.com
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