The 2009 Richmond Senior football team had a total of 23 players named to the All-Southeastern Conference team this week. The Raiders took two of the top awards, as head coach Paul Hoggard was tapped as coach of the year and quarterback Tedarrius Wiley was honored as offensive player of the year.

“We had a bunch of guys that had good seasons, and good careers,” Hoggard said. “I was glad they were honored by the coaches in the conference for what they accomplished on the field.”

Hoggard, who just completed his third season at Richmond, was previously named coach of the year in the now-defunct Mid-Southeastern Conference in his first year back in 2007.

A modest Hoggard credited his staff for his achievement.

“We’ve got a great coaching staff that makes me look good,” Hoggard said.

This season, Wiley passed for 1,608 yards, throwing 11 touchdowns. He set a school record for fewest interceptions, with no picks in 2009.

Though Wiley’s numbers were down compared to 2008, he still will leave Richmond as one of the most decorated passers in school history.

Wiley set school marks as the Raiders’ all-time leader in passing yards with 4,243 and touchdowns, with 40.

Last year, during Richmond’s state championship run, Wiley was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. His 354 passing yards in the Raiders’ 38-35 victory over Jack Britt set a school benchmark for the most passing yards in a state title contest.

“It’s kind of hard to top the career he has had here,” Hoggard said. “He has broken about every quarterback record at Richmond, and led us to a state championship. It speaks to what type of player he is, but more importantly, he is a great person. I hope for nothing but for success for him in the future.”

Wiley was one of 12 Raider offensive players to be selected to the all conference team.

Making the All-SEC first team were: senior left guard Kevin Alfonso; senior left tackle Alex Coulthard; junior center Brandon Ratliff; senior tight end Cameron Page; senior wide receiver Quayshawn Dumas; junior receiver John Rich; senior tailback Labarrian Jones; and junior running back Walter Ellerbe Jr.

Senior right guard Monroe Williams, senior right tackle TJ Goodwin and senior tight end Ryan Page received honorable mention recognition.

Richmond’s offense averaged a conference-leading 39 points per game. Jones and Ellerbe Jr. both eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing.

Ellerbe Jr. had a team-leading 1,653 yards with 24 touchdowns, while Jones finished with 1,454 yards and a team-leading 25 touchdowns.

Dumas led Richmond with 43 catches for 966 yards and 10 touchdowns. He finished his career second all-time in receptions behind Lovell Joy with 70.

Rich was second on the team with 31 catches for 452 yards.

Richmond also had nine defensive players chosen for the all conference team.

The Raiders had seven chosen to the first team, including senior defensive backs Kasheem Reid, Tyquan Wall and Antoine Bostick; senior defensive linemen Antonie McDonald and Josh Patterson; and junior linebackers Vonnie Dawkins and Eugene Flowers.

Senior defensive lineman Justin Wall and senior defensive back Tyone Byrd both made honorable mention.

“I’m happy for the kids, especially since the season didn’t end the way we wanted it,” Raiders defensive coordinator James Johnson said.

“This is something positive for them to feel good about.”

Reid tallied a team-leading 176 tackles and eight forced fumbles; Dawkins was second with 129 tackles; Wall was third with 123 tackles; Flowers was fourth with 121 tackles; Bostick led the team with 10 interceptions. McDonald led the team with six sacks, seven quarterback pressures and had 64 tackles;

Richmond’s senior punter Cody Threadgill and junior kicker Chandler Conner both were named on the honorable mention list. Threadgill averaged 28 yards a punt, while Conner connected on 54 out of 57 extra points and also was 5-of-8 on field goals.



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