By DUANE SHERRILL | Special to The Times
SPRING HILL — Moore County had several opportunities at Spring Hill Friday night but miscues cost them as Battle Creek was able to get the 28-7 win to drop the Raiders to 1-3 on the season.
For Battle Creek, it was their first varsity win in their young program’s history while it was Moore County’s third consecutive loss after the started the season by crushing Community 42-7.
Five interceptions and untimely penalties ended up derailing what was a good showing by the Raiders as they were able to move the ball early but were unable to cash in on their success. The opening Raider drive drove the field until it was stopped when Isaac Petty threw a pick at the Battle Creek 16. Petty took over as quarterback last week after senior signal caller Gavin Wise was sidelined for the season by a knee injury late in the Raiders’ 17-10 loss to Cascade.
Editor’s Note: This article is brought to thanks to an editorial partnership between The Lynchburg Times and The Moore County News. To read more of their articles, click here.}
The Raiders were able to stop the Grizzlies’ resulting drive when the home standing squad was unable to covert a fourth down on the Raider 24. The game was a scoreless tie at the end of one. However, A 46 yard TD pass at the 8:59 mark of the second gave Battle Creek a 7-0 lead.
The Raiders answered three minutes later as Petty connected with Cole Taylor to make the score 7-7. After stopping the Grizzlies on the resulting drive, Moore County was able to drive deep into Battle Creek territory but the drove was stymied by a Petty pick inside the opposing team’s 10. The Grizzlies took advantage of their good fortune two plays later on a 95 yard touchdown pass was just 25 ticks left on the first half clock, giving the Grizzlies a 14-7 at the break.
The second half looked hopeful when Tristyn Gray picked off a Grizzly pass at the Raider 15 but the Raiders returned the favor one play later when the Grizzlies picked off a Petty pass, getting the ball back at the 17. The Grizzlies cashed in again, scoring at the 8:30 mark to make it 21-7.
Moore County again mounted a long drive after getting the ball on the kick off at their own 35. They pushed the ball all the way to the Battle Creek one but were unable to punch it in, turning the pigskin over on downs.
The Raiders again mounted a good drive at the end of the third but it was stopped when Petty threw a pick at the Grizzly three.
Battle Creek was able to play keep away from most of the fourth, keeping the ball out of the Raiders’ hands. When it did get back into Raider possession, Cole Taylor, threw the team’s fifth pick of the night, this one a pick-six returned by the Grizzlies to set the final score at 28-7. •
About The Lynchburg Times
The Lynchburg Times is an independent, locally-owned newspaper rooted in the heart of southern middle Tennessee. Led by a Tulane-educated journalist with over two decades of experience covering this region, we shine a light on the people, politics, and cultural pulse of a changing South from our front seat right here in Lynchburg, Tennessee. From breaking news to slow storytelling, we believe local journalism should inform, empower, and preserve what makes this place unique. Supported by readers and community partners, we’re proud to be part of the new Southern narrative – one story at a time. [Support us here.]