When the Richmond Raiders took the football field on Friday night against the Scotland Fighting Scots, they were focusing in on another conference championship.

However, the Scots had other ideas as they jumped out to a early 21-3 lead over the Raiders before the Raiders scored 28 straight points to claim another Southeastern Conference title with a 31-21 victory.

The Raider defense seemed anemic in the first half of the contest as they allowed Scotland running back Tony Mcrae to run at will against their front seven early.

The Raiders turned things around late in the first half and were able to answer the call with an impressive defensive effort after the half.

“We weren’t playing our assignments right in the first twenty or so minutes in the first half,” linebacker Vonnie Dawkins said.

“But late in the first half we started listening to the coaches and making our assignments the right way to stop their running back and turn the momentum in our favor for the rest of the contest,” Dawkins added.

What seemed to be a strength for the Raiders all year burnt them in the game when the special teams allowed a 90 yard kickoff return to push the Scots’ lead to 21-3, but the steady foot of Chandler Conner with a squib kick was the answer the Raiders needed.

“The squib kick fixed our coverage issues on kick off returns,” Conner said.

“We weren’t thinking out there on the field and missed some opportunities to tackle the runner before he got past our first wave of defenders,” Conner added.

For many of the Raider players, this will be their second conference title as they wrap up their senior season on the field,.

They all have special memories to carry with them.

“It’s nice to keep winning the conference title year after year,” Conner said.

“It’s always good to keep the tradition of Raider football alive and doing well and that’s what you want to leave this place with, enriching the tradition that has been here before you,” Conner added.

The Raiders have set themselves up to make a special run into the state playoffs, but the gauntlet has been thrown down and they will have to be near perfection every week to claim another state crown.

That journey begins next Friday night at home against an opponent to be determined on Saturday.

Contact sports reporter Travis Anderson at 997-3111 ext. 44 or via e-mail at tanderson@yourdailyjournal.com