QB Hoggard to dress for playoff game against Bengals

No. 4 Richmond vs. No. 13 Fuquay-Varina kicks off tonight at 7:30

By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com

ROCKINGHAM — Raiders quarterback Luke Hoggard will dress for tonight’s game against Fuquay-Varina as Richmond hosts the first-round Class 4AA East Region playoff game at Raider Stadium.

Photo by Tony Hogan | WRSH-FM  Raiders quarterback Luke Hoggard, talks with Kevin Spradlin of PeeDeePost.com about tonight's first-round playoff game against Fuquay-Varina.

Photo by Tony Hogan | WRSH-FM
Raiders quarterback Luke Hoggard, talks with Kevin Spradlin of PeeDeePost.com about tonight’s first-round playoff game against Fuquay-Varina.

It might be in the Raiders’ best interests if Hoggard never steps on the field.

The sophomore starting signal-caller suffered an injury during practice on Monday when another player fell on him, resulting in a high ankle sprain. Hoggard said he was on crutches for part of the week but woke up Thursday morning feeling great.

On Friday on the way to the WRSH-FM 91.1 radio station inside Richmond Senior High School, Hoggard was all smiles — and not even a hint of a limp. And if all goes well, backup Tyler Calhoun and junior varsity starter Leon Zeigler will see all the action on the field and Hoggard will have another week to heal.

Despite last week’s 34-13 loss to rival Scotland, Hoggard said there’s a lot to look forward to tonight. After all, both Miles Grant and Quientel Goodwin — the team’s leading rushers who have combined for more than 2,000 yards on the ground with 36 touchdowns — are feeling just fine.

“They’re smart, they work hard every day in the weight room,” Hoggard said during The Pee Dee Post’s first broadcast on WRSH, a five-minute segment that will air live each Friday at 11:30 a.m. on 91.1 FM. On Friday, Tony Hogan and Caleb Neeley served as station engineers.

“Them running the ball just opens up the passing game so much. It’s there because of their great running game,” Hoggard said.

Richmond clearly has a run-first mentality — an approach sustained by a group of young men any quarterback would love to have. Hoggard credited his offensive line with much of the team’s success, whether on the ground or through the air.

Photo by Tony Hogan | WRSH-FM

Photo by Tony Hogan | WRSH-FM

“Trust,” Hoggard said. “It comes from working with them. From day one, from January to now, they got your back, I got them. They’re gonna be there, they’re gonna put everything on the line for you no matter the circumstances.”

Hoggard recalled last week’s game — the loss cut short the Raiders’ attempt at an undefeated regular season — and said there were signs throughout the week that something wasn’t right.

“It all starts from practice on Monday,” Hoggard said. “If you don’t have a good week of practice, turns out you might not have a good week in the game. The intensity level at practice wasn’t as it normally is. It’s almost as if got satisfied with where we were at, which is a big no-no. You can never get satisfied.”

Hoggard continued: “It’s a tough loss to take, but we move on to this week and hopefully win. This loss may have come needed. Though you hate to lose, better to have it (last week) than this week.”

Hoggard said he’s confident every player on the roster won’t get complacent again anytime soon.

There will be, he said. “no satisfaction” for at least a few weeks.

“We won’t be satisfied until the state championship game.”

Filed in: Latest Headlines, Sports

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