For the past few weeks, different sport shows have showed the most memorable moments in sports during the last decade.

As a sportswriter for the Daily Journal for the past four years, there have been some exciting sports moments that have occurred during my tenure. But undeniably the top Richmond County moment in the past 10 years happened just a year ago when the 2008 Raiders’ football team won the 4AA state championship.

The improbable ride to give the school its seventh state title was certainly unforeseen. From 2000-2007, Richmond had won at least nine games in the regular season, only once suffered two losses during the regular season and won the Mid-Southeastern Conference every season since the formation of the league.

However, the Raiders finished the 2008 regular season with a 7-3-1 record, which was mediocre for Richmond’s standards. It was Richmond’s worst regular season record since finishing 5-5 in 1986. Richmond suffered two of its three losses in the conference, which was the first time ever that the Raiders had lost twice in the league.

The Raiders dropped a stunning 31-28 loss to perennial doormat Pinecrest. A week later, Richmond was demolished 42-7 to Douglas Byrd. The Raiders suffered six turnovers in the rainy conditions and stood a disappointing 4-3-1 on the season.

Many would suggest that Richmond was a shell of the prestigious football powerhouse that had won six state titles and was highly regarded as one of the premier programs in the state. The passionate Raiders’ fanbase continuously spoke their displeasure on the Daily Journal website about Richmond’s coaching staff.

But the Raiders’ stoic coach, Paul Hoggard, never allowed the outside criticism to affect him or his team as Richmond used the many naysayers in the community as motivation. Quarterback Tedarrius Wiley, who went through some growing pains earlier in the year, including throwing four interceptions in his first two varsity games, began to come into his own as a drop-back passer in Richmond’s spread option offense.

Wiley led the Raiders to three straight wins to end the season, and Richmond had some much-needed momentum going into the playoffs. Although Richmond’s No. 6 seed in the western bracket of the postseason was its lowest in awhile, the Raiders came into the second season playing their best football at the right time.

Richmond’s roll continued with a first round 30-0 shutout over Northwest Guilford where the defense led the way as it limited the Vikings to 115 yards. Next up, a playoff rematch against West Charlotte, which trounced the Raiders 42-27 in the third round of the 2007 playoffs in Memorial Stadium in Charlotte.

Richmond had revenge on its mind and avenged the painful postseason loss, taking advantage of Lions turnovers to whip West Charlotte 63-12 and move onto a third round date with East Forsyth.

Behind a running attack that racked up 318 yards, the Raiders defeated the second seeded Eagles 38-24 to record their second straight road win. Only perennial powerhouse and undefeated top seed Independence stood in the way of Richmond and a trip to the state championship.

The Patriots had beaten the Raiders three times in the prior playoff meetings during the decade, and many experts predicted Richmond’s Cinderella run would come to an end. But the Raiders weren’t ready for the clock to strike midnight.

Behind a balanced offensive attack that compiled 531 yards, Richmond shocked the Pats 30-22 to hand Indy its first loss at home since the middle of the 1999 season and end the Pats’ quest to play in the state title game for the eight consecutive year.

I remember that following the win — as I was attempting to interview Hoggard — a fan interrupted me and proclaimed Hoggard as the best coach in the state.

I’m almost certain it was the same fan that said to me that Hoggard needed to be fired following a 19-14 loss to Dudley.

It just goes to show you how fans’ opinion change when regarding the head coach when their team begins to win. In the championship game, Jack Britt seemed destined to exorcise its Raider demons, as the Buccaneers led 35-24 with 5:20 left in the game.

But the Buccaneers couldn’t overcome the power of “Raider Magic” as Wiley threw two late-game touchdowns, including a game-winning 4-yard touchdown pass to receiver Lovell Joy.

The score was set up by an improbable fumble by Bucs starting halfback Eric Johnson. Bucs coach Richard Bailey admitted after the game that Johnson had not put the rock on the ground all season.

Wiley, who broke several Raiders’ passing record during the season, was named Most Valuable Player, after his 325 passing yards and four touchdown performance. Richmond’s seventh straight win gave the school its seventh state championship, and its first in 10 years.

Anyone that knows anything about Richmond County understands the importance of the football program to the community.

A small town that had been hit hard with unemployment, stemming from the recession, was able to have a moment to enjoy its team’s championship win, and see the Raiders return to their rightful place atop the football mountain.

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