Home Local Sports Reunion of 1972 football, cheerleading teams set for Friday

Reunion of 1972 football, cheerleading teams set for Friday

The 1972 Richmond football team. (Photo courtesy of RSHS yearbook)

ROCKINGHAM — The regular-season finale for the Richmond Senior High School football team will showcase some of the former players and cheerleaders who “helped get the winning tradition started.”

Ahead of kickoff on Friday against rival Scotland, the 1972 football and cheerleading teams will be recognized while celebrating their 50th anniversary.

Richmond opened its doors in the fall of 1972, bringing together students from across Richmond County’s four previous high schools — Ellerbe, Hamlet, Rockingham and Rohanen.

The half-century celebration was originally planned for the Raiders’ homecoming game on Sept. 30, but was rescheduled due to Hurricane Ian.

Ricky Treadaway, the quarterback of the ‘72 Raiders, put together the reunion with the help of fellow 1973 graduate Bennie Howard in hopes of sharing with current fans the memory of that first campaign.

“We want to tell about the team that got Raider Magic started,” Treadaway said in a previous article. “That summer we started out as four schools coming together as one.”

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In its inaugural season, Richmond and head coach Ron Krall put together an 11-1 overall record, won the Southeastern Conference championship and made it to the third round of the 3A state playoffs.

“Richmond has been playing football for 50 years and has been playing well for a long time,” Howard said. “We had a lot of great athletes on that first team and we were successful because we came together as one for the common cause of winning.”

The Raiders (5-4, 4-1 SAC) will host rival Scotland (5-4, 3-2 SAC) on senior night, which will recognize over 20 seniors on this year’s team. 

Looking to extend its winning streak to four games to close the season, Richmond will kickoff at 7:30 p.m.

If interested in attending, or have any questions, Treadaway can be reached at 704-252-0917 or via Facebook.

“The main reason for this reunion is for all of us to be together again,” Treadaway closed. “There are people I haven’t seen since graduation, and 50 years is a big milestone.



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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.