CLEVELAND — For the first time in three years, Richmond Heights High School is getting ready for some football, after not fielding a varsity team since 2019. 

What You Need To Know

  • The Richmond Heights varsity football team is back after a three-year break

  • The team received a one-year suspension for walking off the field in 2019 because of injuries

  • Few players were interested in the sport after the suspension, forcing it to shut down

For senior Darius Munford, this will be his first and last football season with the Spartans.

“We didn’t have nothing to do. A lot of kids didn’t have an outlet to let out their anger, just let out emotions,” he said.

Munford is a quarterback and cornerback for the Spartans and he said he’s ready to step up to the challenge.

“We get to come in, handle business and leave, you know. It’s not going to take much,” he said. “We’ve been working for two years on this. Everybody is ready and committed. We just waiting on that first kickoff.”

It’s a kickoff the coaching staff has been anticipating. Head coach Cordale Scott said they had to go through several obstacles to get to this point.

“Just getting the community and the school back into the football culture and understanding the importance of the impact football can make,” he said.

In 2019, the team was issued a one year suspension for walking off the field in the first quarter after losing two players to injuries, leaving the team with only 15 players.

The next two years weren’t any better. Few players showed interest in the sport, causing the program to temporarily shut down. The challenge fell into the hands of the new coaching staff. Assistant Coach Randy Knight said they started by bringing back the junior varsity team last year.

“A lot of our kids are kids that were forgotten about, kids that people counted out, so now they have a chance at redemption, to really come show what they’re worth. And I believe that we are going to shock the state of Ohio this year when it comes to football,” he said.

The team has been putting in the work, learning plays, shaking off the rust and nerves, getting ready for those Friday night lights.

“I can’t wait, but when it’s kickoff time I’m going to be kind of nervous because I coach defense, so I got to make sure we get the tackle first, then I can breathe it in,” Knight said.

Munford said when the whistle blows, he’s going to give it his all.

“Like we been working on this for two years and we finally here, and it’s going to bring the excitement and the drive to get out there as soon as the ball is kicked up in the air, so it’s going to be fun,” he said.

For coach Scott, he said he will be ready for kick off when that time comes.

“Four guys at tryouts the first year we started,” he said.

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