Richmond rolls after naming field in honor of Kocher
Richmond started the football season with remembrance and a victory.
Denny Salagan ran for four touchdowns Thursday night to lead the Blue Devils to a 49-18 nonleague victory over Clintondale after Richmond named its field in honor of John Kocher, who died in March after coaching the team from 2011-2020.
Salagan rushed 11 times for 312 yards as the Blue Devils rolled in coach Sean Misko’s debut.
“It was a beautiful night with a great ceremony celebrating the legacy of coach Kocher,” Misko said. “The boys came out with a ton of emotion and intensity.
“All around a fantastic evening.” Jackson Jones scored on a 32yard run to help Richmond take a 28-0 lead in the first half against Clintondale, a MAC Silver Division team.
Blue Devils linebacker Sam Denapole made five tackles. He had two tackles for negative yardage and two sacks.
Kocher died March 3 following a long battle with cancer.
His teams won three Blue Water Area Conference championships and made nine consecutive playoff appearances.
During the ceremony, Richmond also rededicated Ben Boldt Stadium.
A new turf playing field that was installed in time for the 2020 season was a long-standing wish of Kocher, superintendent Brian Walmsley said.
“John Kocher was instrumental in getting this field to what it is today,” Walmsley said. “John made it his mission to make sure our Richmond students had the same worldclass facilities as larger, more affluent districts.
“John repeatedly told me, ‘Our students deserve nothing less.’ He was an advocate for students, in and out of the classroom.”
A brick arch lettered with KOCHER FIELD and a plaque highlighting Kocher’s contributions are part of a remodeling of the stadium.
Kocher’s widow, Carole, and their daughters Alexandra and Elizabeth took part in the ceremony.
Speakers included school board president Deborah Michon and athletic director Chris Rinehart.
Kocher worked as an elementary school social worker for Clintondale Community Schools.