Contributed by Jimmy McDonald Richmond coach Paul Hoggard had 14 players selected to the all-conference team and another 10 were honorable mention picks.

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ROCKINGHAM — The Richmond Senior football team had 14 players honored as all-Southeastern Conference selections and had another 10 named as honorable mention coach Paul Hoggard announced Monday morning.

Leading the Richmond contingent was junior running back Diquon Cox, who rushed for a team-high 1,136 yards and 15 touchdowns. Junior quarterback Brent Flowers was also an all-conference honoree. Flowers connected on 92 of 148 passes for 1,682 yards and 21 touchdowns this season and added another 844 yards and seven scores on the ground.

Senior wide receiver Trent Bostick joined Cox and Flowers as an all-conference selection. Bostick grabbed a team-high 45 catches for 762 yards and nine touchdowns. Senior tight end Jacob Staub earned honors, despite not having a catch this season.

Completing the Richmond selections on offense were senior offensive linemen Tyrone Crowder, Taivon Jones and Alex Norton.

Dakwa Nichols, who missed three conferences contests and the majority of a fourth, was an honorable mention pick this year. Nichols topped the 1,000-mark for the first time in his career, running for 1,083 yards and 14 touchdowns. He closed out his career with 180 yards and three scores on 11 carries against Jack Britt. Jaleel Stancil was also an honorable mention selection after rushing for 184 yards and two scores.

Two Richmond wide receivers — Raheem Bowden and Kole Stanley — were honorable mention choices as well. Bowden was second on the team with 17 receptions and seven touchdowns, while Stanley had 16 grabs for 387 yards and five scores.

Rounding out the list was center Josh Leviner.

On defense, Richmond also placed seven players, highlighted by senior linebacker Dion Spencer, on the all-conference team. Spencer led the Raiders with 136 tackles.

Joining Spencer on the all-SEC squad was senior linebacker Rashard Holiday, who was Richmond’s third leading tackler with 98.

Devant’e Covington was one of three defensive linemen to earn all-conference honors. The senior was second on the team with 109 tackles. Seniors Jalen Joy, who had 45 tackles, and Bobby Watkins, who finished with 59 tackles, were also named to squad along with Covington.

Both of Richmond’s senior starting safeties — Mikey Steele and Robert Williams — snagged all-SEC honors. Steele was Richmond’s fourth leading tackler with 95, while Williams was right behind him with 93. Williams had a team-high five interceptions, while Steele recorded one this season.

Five other defensive players were tabbed as all-conference honorable mention selections. Senior lineman Shydamion Ellerbe and junior Tony Bostick top the list. Bostick finished with 53 tackles, while Ellerbe registered 44.

Senior cornerbacks Thomas Calhoun and Devontae Watkins as well as junior safety Tyree Jamison complete the list for the Raiders. Calhoun was credited with 54 tackles, Watkins had 48 and Jamison notched 50. Watkins was second on the team with three interceptions.

The SEC’s six coaches selected Scotland sophomore quarterback Jaylend Ratliffe and Hoke County senior running back Detrez Newsome as the conference’s co-offensive players of the year. Scotland senior linebacker Artemis Robinson was the top defender. Richard Bailey was tabbed as the coach of the year in his first year with the Fighting Scots.

— Sports editor Shawn Stinson can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 14, or by email at sstinson@heartlandpublications.com.