LOCAL SPORTS — Friday night was a tale of two halves on Doug Price Field in Lynchburg. In the first half, the Raiders mounted an early two score lead and in the second half they watched that lead disappear as the Loretto Mustang power running attack finally woke up and scored 21 unanswered points.
Moore County scores on first two possessions
The Raiders struck early and often in the first quarter with Dawson White earning six points on Moore County’s first two possessions. At around nine minute mark on third and one near the red zone, Raider QB Keller Morey handed off the ball to White who forced a couple of Loretto defenders to miss as he scampered into the end zone for a 21 yard touchdown. The PAT was no good resulting in Moore County 6 – Loretto 0.
The first Mustang drive ticked nearly five minutes off the clock. Loretto started first and 10 at the 27 yard line but the determined Raider D forced a three and out to give the offense back the ball with eight minutes to play in the first. Unfortunately, a Raider defender ran into the punter and penalty gave the Mustangs back the ball with a fresh set of downs around the 30. But the Raider defense did not yield. Mustang quarterback Carter Daniel and star running back Sam Tucker couldn’t get anything going. Then on a fourth and four around midfield with seven defenders in the box, Daniel handed off to Jaden Stults who muscled forward for the first down. Three plays later, the Raiders pushed Stults back for negative yardage and the Raiders took over on downs around the 35 yard line with 3:32 to play in the first.
On the next Raider first down, Morey handed off to Logan Hegwood who got nearly seven yards. On second down, the Mustang defense stymied Hegwood. On third down, Morey dropped back and passed 58 yards to White, who made to Mustangs miss for six points. Blake Bradford’s PAT made the score Moore County 13, Loretto 0. And that’s how the first quarter ended.
We’re not sure what Loretto Head Coach Barry Daniel saw or adjusted but Mustangs came out a different team in the second quarter. Loretto QB Carter Daniel used Tucker and Stultz to run the ball right down the middle on their first series to set up first and goal. Tucker then jumped over the Raider defenders to score on the Mustang’s first possession of the night. The PAT cut Moore County’s lead to Raiders 13, Loretto 7 with 8:14 to play in the first half.
The Raider ended the first half with a costly interception but Loretto could not turn the remaining 90 seconds into point.
The Mustangs got the ball first in the second half and managed 14 unanswered point to head back to Loretto with a non-district 21-13 win. Moore County is now tied for fourth place in Region 5A with Collinwood (1-2, 1-6), who they play this Friday, October 15.
Dawson White led for the Raiders with two touchdown and 170 total yards including 101 receiving yards and 69 rushing yards. Blake Bradford was on one of two in PATs. Raider QB Keller Morey was 12 of 19 with one touchdown pass and two interceptions. On defense, Peyton Martin led with 12 tackles followed closely by Dawson White with 11. Morey and Wes Clifton each got a pass deflection and Martin recovered a fumble.
The Raiders play Collinwood in Lynchburg on Friday. •
{The Lynchburg Times is the only independently owned and operated newspaper in Lynchburg. We cover Metro Moore County government, Jack Daniel’s Distillery, Nearest Green Distillery, Tims Ford State Park, Motlow State Community College, Moore County High School, Moore County Middle School, Lynchburg Elementary, Raider Sports, plus regional and state news.}