Home Local Sports BREAKING: 12 Raiders named to All-SAC roster; Jones crowned Offensive POY

BREAKING: 12 Raiders named to All-SAC roster; Jones crowned Offensive POY

Senior WR Tremel Jones (1), who was named the SAC's "Offensive Player of the Year," hauls in a TD catch against Middle Creek.
Kyle Pillar — Sports Editor.

ROCKINGHAM — For the fourth straight season under head coach Bryan Till, the Richmond Senior High School football team had the most selections named to the All-Sandhills Athletic Conference team.

Released Sunday following the elimination of all SAC schools in the NCHSAA 4AA and 4A state playoffs, the Raiders had 12 players named to the 50-man roster. 

“We are really pleased, and we were hoping the other coaches still recognized our kids’ talent even though we only played three (conference) games,” Till said. “All of them continued to work for six to eight months before the season started, and they’re all very deserving.”

Topping the list of All-Conference selections as senior wide receiver Tremel Jones, who was crowned the 2021 “Offensive Player of the Year,” which happened to also be his first career selection.

Of the 12 players chosen, Richmond had six offensive players picked: Jones, offensive linemen Braxton Butler (junior, first selection) and Jaleel Davis (senior, third selection); senior wide receiver Dalton Stroman (second selection); senior running back Jaron Coleman (second selection) and junior quarterback Kellan Hood (first selection).

“The O-Line guys are very physical and our receivers are very explosive,” Till said. “Kellan and Jaron were in their first year starting in new positions, so they earned it in different ways. It was fun to see that and they all helped us.”

Defensively, the Raiders were represented by six more players, including senior linebacker C.J. Tillman, who earned his third career selection and was the 2019 “Defensive Player of the Year.”

The other five Raider defensive players were all first-time selections: senior defensive linemen Kaleel Brown and Derrick Everette, junior defensive lineman J.D. Lampley, junior linebacker Gabe Altman and junior cornerback Jamari Broady.

“There were a lot of first-time guys for our defense, and the year they had was a result of all the work they had to do,” Till shared. “They are tough and physical players who played well when it mattered. They were always ready on the field for big moments and that was huge for us.”

Tremel Jones, Offensive Player of the Year

After exploding onto the scene as a junior, Jones made every game of his shortened senior season count. The Wingate University signee, known for his speed and versatility, was instrumental in all three phases of the game for the Raiders.

In five games, Jones caught 20 passes for 282 yards and hauled in four touchdown passes. He was also a threat on the ground with two touchdowns, adding an 85-yard rushing score against Hoke County and scooping up a 37-yard rushing score against Cardinal Gibbons.

On special teams, Jones had a 30-yard punt return for a touchdown against Lumberton. TIll said that Jones’ ability to score on long receiving plays, creating space with his speed and being a threat to score anywhere on the field is what made the selection so deserving. 

“It’s very heartwarming being recognized for all of my hard work and my leadership qualities,” Jones said. “I’m very surprised, but being able to make an impact in the running, passing and special teams game created this opportunity for me.

“Having 12 guys named All-Conference says Richmond is a well-coached program,” he added. “I have so many dedicated teammates who put the team first for us to be successful. And our coaches are committed for us to be successful on and off the field.” 

Jones said after he received his second college offer, Coach Milton Swinnie told him “to not let complacency invade your mind and never forget what you are working for.” That advice, Jones noted, helped keep his motor going.

Offensive Players: Butler, Coleman, Davis, Hood and Stroman

Butler (center) and Davis (left tackle), two of the biggest guys on the offensive line, were tasked with giving Hood time and space in the pocket. 

Davis, who is an N.C. State signee, and Butler led an offensive line that helped produce 41.4 points per game and provided Richmond’s backfield with running lanes for 17 total rushing scores.

Junior center Braxton Butler snaps the ball to Kellan Hood against Lumberton.

Senior LT Jaleel Davis (62) look over to the sideline to read the incoming play against Middle Creek.

Switching to quarterback this season, Hood was 51-of-81 passing with 694 yards and seven touchdowns. He finished the spring with just three interceptions, and his three passing TDs against Middle Creek in the playoffs was a season-high. 

A dual-threat, Hood added 135 rushing yards on 27 carries and crossed the end zone four times for the Raiders.

Junior QB Kellan Hood (7) throws a pass against Hoke County this season.

Stroman, who signed with App State in December, continued his high level of play this season. One of Hood’s top two targets, Stroman grabbed 24 catches for 275 yards and two touchdowns, while also returning a punt 75 yards for a touchdown against Lumberton.

Coleman stepped in this spring as the Raiders’ No. 1 running back and collected 466 rushing yards on 74 carries, an average of 6.3 yards per touch. He led the team with seven rushing scores and had a career night against Middle Creek, where he rushed for 239 yards and two scores.

Advertisements

Senior WR Dalton Stroman catches a pass against Cardinal Gibbons in the playoffs.

Senior RB Jaron Coleman finds a hole in the line against Hoke County.

Defensive Players: Altman, Broady, Brown, Everette, Lampley and Tillman

The Richmond defense transitioned to a 4-3 scheme under first-year defensive coordinator James Johnson and the Raiders didn’t disappoint. As a unit, the defense allowed just 22.4 points per game.

In the trenches, Brown, Everette and Lampley solidified a strong front four that wreaked havoc on opposing offenses. Of the three, Brown led the way with 19 total tackles (13 solo, six assists) and averaged 4.8 tackles per game to go along with his four tackles for loss. Brown also had one quarterback sack.

Senior DL Kaleel Brown makes an open-field tackle in Richmond’s win over Lumberton.

Everette had five total tackles, four solo and one assist (1.7 tackles per game), one tackle for loss and collected two quarterback hurries.

Lampley notched 15 tackles (10 solo, five assists), averaged 3.8 tackles per game and was tied for the team lead with six tackles for loss. 

His eight quarterback hurries were the most on the team, six of which came against Middle Creek, and he swatted down a pass in each of Richmond’s two playoff games. He contributed two quarterback sacks and caused a fumble against Hoke County.

Derrick Everette (34) pressures Middle Creek’s QB during Richmond’s first round playoff win.

Junior DL J.D. Lampley (9) records a tackle for loss against Cardinal Gibbons.

Playing both sides of the ball as a linebacker and running back, Tillman was second on the team with 24 tackles (10 solo, 14 assists). He accounted for one sack, one hurry and had two interceptions, both in the playoffs.

Out of the backfield, Tillman carried the ball 16 times for 166 yards and scored two rushing touchdowns. He tallied a career-high 115 yards on the ground against Middle Creek.

Senior LB/RB C.J. Tillman rushes the ball against Middle Creek in the opening round of the playoffs.

In his first season at the varsity level, Altman worked in sync with the defense and tallied 22 total tackles (18 solo, four assists), which was tied for third on the team. He accounted for six tackles for loss, had seven total tackles against Lumberton and recorded two sacks in the same game.

In the season opener at Pinecrest, Altman blocked a punt in the end zone and was credited with the special teams score.

Junior LB Gabe Altman (6) stops a runner in the backfield in Richmond’s win over Hoke County.

Part of a completely new secondary, Broady was instrumental in the Raiders’ growth this season. He had six tackles, but made his biggest impact defending the ball. He deflected six passes this spring and returned his lone interception for a 25-yard touchdown against Lumberton.

Broady knocked three passes away during Richmond’s win over Middle Creek and also scooped up a fumble and ran it 20 yards to the house for a score against Pinecrest.

Junior CB Jamari Broady returns an interception for a touchdown against Lumberton.

Behind Richmond, which won the SAC championship for the third straight year, Pinecrest and Scotland high schools both had nine players named.

Other SAC schools to have players named were: Jack Britt (6), Hoke County (5), Seventy-First (5), Lumberton (2) and Purnell Swett (2).

Note: Defensive players’ official statistics didn’t include the Richmond-Cardinal Gibbons playoff game, which weren’t recorded in MaxPreps at the time of publication.



Previous articleJane Rabb Hogan
Next articleAllen Floyd
Kyle Pillar is a 22-time North Carolina Press Association award-winning sports editor with The Richmond Observer. Follow the sports department on X @ROSports_ for the best in-depth coverage of Richmond County sports.