Vance dominates Richmond Senior, earns bid to second straight NC 4AA state final
There’s another trip on Vance’s postseason itinerary.
The No. 10 seed Cougars marched through a fourth playoff opponent on the road Friday with a 38-7 win against top seed Richmond Senior in the N.C. 4AA West Region at Raiders Stadium to earn a berth against Leesville Road in the title game next Saturday in Chapel Hill.
Vance, which is returning to the championship game for the second straight season, scored 35 unanswered points, including a 21-point third quarter to turn the game’s momentum.
“It’s the mentality of these kids,” Cougars coach Glenwood Ferebee said. “They love football and they work hard. I’ve never coached a team that works like these kids work.”
Vance’s offense sprang to life in the third, scoring a touchdown on each of its three possessions. Austin Grier ran for a score and passed for another, and Stefon Thompson ran for a third to turn a 10-7 advantage into a 31-7 rout.
“Coming out of halftime, we knew we had the opportunities and we just weren’t taking advantage of them,” Grier said. “We came out in the second half and executed.”
As has been the case throughout the playoffs, Vance’s defense, which has allowed 21 points in four games, dictated terms.
Richmond Senior outgained the Cougars 145-124 in the first half, but Vance held on a first quarter goal-to-go and unleashed its blitz in passing situations to net four sacks in the first half. Raiders quarterback Caleb Hood gained 49 yards in the first half, with 27 of them coming on a single carry on their first possession.
Records: Vance 11-3; Richmond Senior 13-1.
Three who mattered
Austin Grier, Vance: The junior quarterback was a mature leader, hitting 13-of-19 passes for 183 yards and two scores. He also rushed for 55 yards and a touchdown. He racked up 86 yards on 5-of-8 passing in the first half and the Cougars’ lone touchdown to Kevin Conception.
Kevin Conception, Vance: The receiver snagged three passes for 45 yards in the first half, including a 33-yarder for a score. He finished with four receptions for 63 yards.
Stefon Thompson, Vance: The Cougars linebacker racked up three sacks and a fumble recovery in the first half. He also ran for a couple of touchdowns.
Worth mentioning
▪ Both quarterbacks took a beating in the first half, with Richmond Senior tallying three sacks, one short of Vance’s haul. The Cougars finished with seven sacks; the Raiders didn’t add another.
▪ There were plenty of penalties. Vance was flagged 15 times for 110 yards. Richmond Senior was hit with eight for 85 yards.
▪ As dominant as Vance’s defense played, the offense was efficient, gaining 367 yards to the Raiders’ 187. The Cougars were balanced with 184 yards rushing and 183 passing.
▪ Vance limited Richmond passers to five completions in 27 attempts for 104 yards. The Cougars snagged three interceptions.
They said it
“It hurt a lot of people when we couldn’t bring it home last year. I think we’re definitely motivated and excited to get back in.” – Grier
Vance 3 7 21 7-38
Richmond Senior 7 0 0 0-7
First quarter
V — Melvin Benitez 35-yard field goal
R — Caleb Hood 1-yard run (Trevor Moss kick)
Second quarter
V — Kevin Conception 13-yard pass from Austin Grier (Benitez kick)
Third quarter
V — Michai Riley 22-yard pass from Grier (Benitez kick)
V — Stefon Thompson 1-yard run (Benitez kick)
V — Grier 1-yard run (Benitez kick)
Fourth quarter
V — Thompson 7-yard run (Benitez kick)
This story was originally published December 6, 2019 at 11:20 PM with the headline "Vance dominates Richmond Senior, earns bid to second straight NC 4AA state final."