FAYETTEVILLE | Sports — The Moore County Middle School Raiders put an exclamation mark on a blockbuster season on Saturday night beating the Unity Lions 36-0 to earn conference bragging right until next year.

Moore County got on the board first when Raider QB Brett Dobbs found Alex Copeland in the end zone for six points. Three first downs pieced together by Logan Hegwood and Keller Morey set up the score. The two point conversion was no good.

The Unity Lion then went three and out.

On the next possession, excellent blocking by the Raider offensive line including crucial blocks by Wes Clifton and Keller Morey set up Logan Hegwood for a scamper into the end zone to make it Raiders 12, Unity 0 with 2:24 remaining in the first quarter.

On the kick off, Unity fumbled the ball giving the Raiders great field position at the 38 yard line. Alex Copeland, Will Parker, and Logan Hegwood then pieced together a couple of first downs before Landon Jolley got a huge block to pave the way for Logan Hegwood to walk into the end zone. Hegwood also managed the two point conversion to make it Raider 20, Unity 0.

After halftime, the Raiders kicked off to Unity but again the Lions fumbled the ball. It didn’t take the Raiders long to score again. Brett Dobbs handed off to Logan Hegwood. He shook off tackles and made defenders miss until he’d earned another six. The duo combined on the two point conversion to make it Raider 28, Unity 0.

Unity then burned through three quick downs as Bryson Carter tackled the Lion QB twice in the backfield for negative yardage. They decided to go for it on fourth down but again Carter would have none of it and the Lions turned the ball over on downs.

On the next series, Brett Dobbs and Will Parker went to work getting Keller Morey in position to score. Dobbs threw a screen pass to Morey, he caught the edge and outran the Unity defender down the right sideline for six more. The two point conversion was no good to make the score Raider 34, Unity 0 with less than two minutes remaining.

Unity managed their second first down of the game on the next series before Michael McNatt got a couple of huge tackles for short Lion yardage. Unity decided to go for it on fourth and one but the Raider defense stiffened and they got the ball back on downs.

The Raiders, now heavily substituting, went three and out to give the Lions the ball back with time quickly expiring. They managed another first down before Bryson Carter again hassled the quarterback, forcing a fumble, which the Raiders scooped up for a safety. The final score was Raider 36, Unity 0.

Not only did the Moore County Middle School Raiders go 7-1 and win conference honors, several individual players were also recognized. Brett Dobbs was named All Conference MVP and Landon Jolley was named All Conference Defensive Player. Wes Clifton, Alex Copeland, Keller Morey, Aydan Blair, and Logan Hegwood were also named to All Conference.

Josh Wilson coaches the MCMS Raiders and both Lily Blankenship and Lilly Carter serves as middle school football managers. •