The 2024 Randolph Raiders football team is set to kick off their season on Friday, August 23 at SportsMed Field. The Raiders will host a top-10 ranked West Morgan Rebels.

The goal for this year’s Raiders team is to capture the first region championship in program history. The Raiders have finished as the runner-up for three consecutive years. With the addition of Madison Academy and Plainview, claiming the Class 4A Region 8 title will not be an easy feat.

The Raiders are led on offense by quarterback William Mitchell. Mitchell is the reigning Region 8 Offensive Player of the Year. He will be surrounded by an experienced group of playmakers and a strong offensive line. Noah Gaunt, Graham Batey, and Hunter Wiggins all return to the Raiders' offense. Walker Mitchell and Tyler DeOrio will add some new firepower to an offense that averaged over 30 points per game last season.

The offensive line will be anchored by senior tackle JP Christopher. Returning starters Bradford Hall and Gibson Smith will be heavily relied on to spark the Raiders' run game. Mihai Stroe, Austin Nelson, and Garison Ward will complete the Raiders' offensive line.

Defensively, the Raiders will look to Graham Batey to set the tone every Friday night. Graham is a returning All-Region player and will be the defensive leader for the Raiders. Also returning to the Raiders' defense are Park Strickland, Bradford Hall, Hunter Wiggins, Noah Gaunt, and Johnathan Billions. First-year starters George Newman, Garison Ward, Walker Mitchell, and Will Perkins are eager to leave their mark on the Raiders' defense.

George Dupres, Tanner Durbin, Henry Green, and George Smith will all see action in the kicking game for the Raiders.

The Randolph Raiders have one of the toughest schedules in Class 4A. With three top-10 teams in the first six games, the Raiders are looking forward to the challenge. “It’s the toughest schedule we’ve ever had, and probably the toughest non-region schedule in 4A,” says Head Coach David Lloyd. “It’s what I love about our guys. They want to play in meaningful games. They want to be pushed, they want to be challenged. We build our schedule to prepare us for the playoffs.”

With the opening game set for Friday, August 23, the Raiders will not have to wait much longer to take the field. This year’s team has the potential to make history and bring home a region championship. It’s a tough road ahead, but the Raiders are up for the challenge.