SPORTS — It was an ugly, embarrassing loss. That’s what the Moore County Raiders senior football players remember about last year’s 47-28 game in Mount Pleasant.
“With what happened last year with them, I just want to beat them so bad,” said senior wide receiver Joshua Parks during Coach’s Corner on the Moore County Sports Network on Saturday. “It was ridiculous last year.”
Despite their 1-8 record, the Mount Pleasant Tigers enter Raider Stadium as a dangerous foe. Five of their regular season loses — Summertown, Richland, Loretto, ZCA, and Eagleville — were all one possession games. The Tigers, who have experience positive team COVID cases this year, also forfeited a game to Cornersville. Beating the Raiders on Friday night could make their season and they’ll come onto Doug Price Field motivated.
The Tigers also possess the weapons to score. Senior quarterback Te’Varius Strayhorn (#6) frequently scrambles outside the pocket for positive yards. He’s pieced together 134 yards on the ground this season.
The leading Tiger rusher is Zavier Davidson (#27) with 592 total rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Senior Ladontay Patton (#23) and freshman Keegan Cooper (#22) have also combined for another 641 yards on the ground.
On defense, the Raider offense will need to keep an eye on Ethan Beasley (#46) who’s racked up 63 tackles and seven sacks this season. Senior Jerimiah Dobbins (#32) has also racked up 50 tackles so far this year.
When asked how he planned to approach his final regular season game, Coach Kris White told the Moore County Sports Network that he plans to treat it like any other game.
“I want to go 9-1. I think it would be huge for this class of seniors to go 9-1 in their regular season,” he said. “We also wanna just get better from week to week. If we want to make a run at the playoffs, we have to get better each week.”
That mission got accomplished last Friday night against Richland as things started clicking for the Raider offense. Helped by the play of the offensive line, the Moore County running game became explosive in the 35-7 win against Richland. If the Raiders can continue to build on that solid rushing attack this weak, it will open up the passing game and give Raider QB Kyler Parker ample weapons to choose from against the Tigers.
Moore County will play their final regular season home game this Friday against Mount Pleasant. It will be First Responder’s Night. Kick off will be at 7 p.m.
If you can’t attend the game, it will be broadcast live on Raider Country 105.1 and 95.5 FM with Joe Abraham and the Moore County Sports Network, on the NFHS Network, or The Lynchburg Times will post live score updates on our Facebook page. •
{The Lynchburg Times is the only independently owned and operated newspaper in Lynchburg, Tennessee. 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.}