STE. GENEVIEVE – Richmond varsity football coach Nick Persell made a prediction about the bus ride home after the Spartans’ 61-25 season-opening win over New Madrid County Central Aug. 27 at Ste. Genevieve High School. “I’d imagine … they’ll be pretty excited, but it’ll be about 20 minutes by the time they’re all asleep, I’m guessing,” Persell said. One reason for Persell’s prediction was because the trek from Ste. Genevieve, located about an hour south of St. Louis, back to Richmond would be four-plus hours long. Another was that it would be the Spartans’ second lengthy bus trip that day. The first was the drive from Richmond to Ste. Genevieve, with the bus leaving at roughly 7 a.m. from the high school. Getting ready to play after a long ride was difficult, Persell acknowledged. That the Spartans were ready was a credit to their mental toughness, he said. “I think it shows … our experience and our leadership of our seniors,” Persell said. “Having 14 seniors helps a lot in those…