On a night that saw both teams offer each other plenty of opportunities, Richmond left just enough openings to allow South Dearborn to escape Lyboult Field with a 21-19 win.
Although South Dearborn played spoiler at the Richmond football Homecoming game on Friday, Sept. 11, Red Devils coach Maurice Hibbler saw glimpses of what he believes his team can be.
A strong start. Stretches of dominance on defense. A decided advantage in most categories on the stat sheet.
“We came out swinging from the first play to the last play,” Hibbler said. “The offensive line played a heck of a game. The defense was lights out. Hands down, this is the best game we’ve played collectively. We’ve just got to fix some small things on offense, and we’ll be all right. We’ve just got to keep believing.”
Richmond seemed inspired by a stirring series of pregame ceremonies on a cloudy night that was both home opener and Homecoming for the Red Devils. Dre Street, a Richmond player who was seriously injured during an onfield contest at a summer baseball game, joined his teammates for the pregame coin toss.
Prior to kickoff, both teams took the field carrying more than 50 American flags, joined by area police officers, firefighters and first responders, for a commemoration of 25 years since the 9/11 attacks.
Soon after the red, white and blue smoke from the pregame fireworks display cleared, Richmond was ahead 6-0. Daniel Gammage’s 50-yard run, which included a nifty jump cut to avoid a defender, was the key play on the opening drive. Thomas Stargell, who went the distance at quarterback, scored the touchdown from 5 yards out.
South Dearborn had negative total yardage until quarterback Kaiden Wessell broke free for a 58-yard run on the first play of the Knights’ third possession. Five plays later, South Dearborn led 7-6 when Wyatt Adams tapped his toe down in the very back of the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown reception.
South Dearborn made it 14-6 on a 32-yard pass from Wessell, just over the arms of Richmond defenders, and down the right sideline to a streaking Tyler Christian on a third-and-26.
The Red Devils got within 14-12 on their first drive of the second half. Stargell, who was crowned Homecoming king at halftime, connected with Syn’Cere Russell for a 53-yard pass to get Richmond in scoring position. Stargell ran it into the end zone two plays later, but a penalty after the score forced the Red Devils to attempt their two-point conversion from the 18-yard line. A pass into the end zone was unsuccessful.
The teams exchanged turnovers on the next three possessions. The sequence ended with South Dearborn extending its lead to 21-12 on an 8-yard pick-six for Christian.
Richmond gave itself a chance in the waning moments when Russell got behind the defense for a 46-yard touchdown catch to make it 21-19 with 2:09 remaining. The Red Devils got the ball back with 10 seconds left, but not enough time to cover the 88 yards needed for a winning score.
Give Richmond a bit more time in general, Hibbler said, and then look out.
“To me, we’re a dangerous team,” he said. “You’d better know where our athletes are. Once we figure it out and how to get them in space, we’re going to be dangerous. We’re showing glimpses of that, but I’ve got a lot of young guys, and once they get a little bit more experience and a little bit more belief, we’re going to be dangerous.”
South Dearborn (2-2) 0 14 7 0 21
Richmond (1-3) 6 0 6 7 19
South Dearborn stat leaders (unofficial) — Rushing: Kaiden Wessell 13-52, Braston Gross 10-27. Passing: Wessell 7-13-1-84. Receiving: Tyler Christian 3-54. Wyatt Adams 2-14. Gross 1-13.
Richmond stat leaders — Rushing: Daniel Gammage 11-81, Thomas Stargell 17-67. Passing: Stargell 7-15-1-179. Receiving: Syn’Cere Russell 4-117, Domonique Armstead 1-47, Ty’ziyah Stubbs 1-13. Defense: Kylin Cooper 9 tackles, Isaiah DeLucio 9 tackles, Maurice Hibbler 7 tackles (2 TFL, 1 fumble recovery).
A version of this article will appear in the September 16 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.
