Homecoming: Make-or-break for Raiders

Drew Hardison (44), Buddy Qualls (50), and Kohlby Williams (60) will be key to containing Fayetteville's run game.

DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor

Friday night’s Homecoming matchup at Doug Price Field will be more than a celebration for Moore County – it’s a make-or-break moment in the Raiders’ 2025 campaign. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Moore County (1-6 overall, 0-2 in Region 5A) enters the region clash against Fayetteville riding a six-game losing streak. Despite the record, head coach Kris White says the team’s heart and effort haven’t wavered.

“I’m proud of how they keep fighting,” White said. “It’s not a lack of effort – it’s just bad technique sometimes. But they show up every Monday, ready to work.”

Fayetteville’s bruising, old-school rushing attack will test the Raiders’ defensive front. White said the Tigers’ “power run game” – with a hard-running tailback and mobile quarterback – will demand discipline from Moore County’s safeties and ends.

“It’s going to be on Buddy [Qualls] and Kohlby [Williams] to close those holes and be physical,” White explained. “If they don’t squeeze it down, it’s going to be wide open.”

Moore County has shown flashes of offensive rhythm this season, moving the ball effectively in most games but struggling to finish drives. The Raiders will again rely on underclassmen such as sophomore Drew Hardison, who replaced Tucker Smith after he suffered a shoulder injury that required surgery.

White emphasized that this young roster is still learning but remains all-in. “They’re going through adversity now, but 10 years from now, they’ll look back and remember that they kept pushing,” he said. “That’s what this game’s supposed to teach.”

As for the timing of Homecoming, White admits it’s not his favorite week. “It’s the worst week of the year for a coach,” he joked. “There’s so much going on, but we try to get everything done by Thursday, so Friday is all about football.”

For Moore County, the stakes are simple: win and stay alive in the playoff hunt, or see postseason hopes fade away under the Homecoming lights.

Playoff Scenarios

Moore County’s postseason hopes aren’t gone just yet – but the path to the playoffs is a narrow one.

The Raiders sit at 0-2 in Region 5 play heading into the final three weeks of the regular season. But with games remaining against Fayetteville, Cornersville, and Richland, Moore County can still climb back into contention for one of the region’s four playoff spots.

If the Raiders win out, they would finish 3-2 in Region 5, giving themselves a shot at a tiebreaker scenario for the postseason. Anything less – a 2-3 or worse region mark – would almost certainly end their playoff run.

Moore County’s best and most realistic scenario is simple: win all three remaining region games.

If that happens, the Raiders would join a crowded middle of the standings with Huntland, Richland, Eagleville, and Fayetteville all potentially finishing 3-2 in region play. In 15 of 16 possible outcomes among the remaining matchups, a 3-2 Moore County team qualifies outright or on tiebreakers.

There is, however, one combination of results that could cause a five-way tie at 3-2 – which would would happen only if:
• Moore County beats Fayetteville, Cornersville, and Richland
• Huntland beats Cornersville but loses to Eagleville
• Richland beats Fayetteville
• Fayetteville beats Eagleville

That would leave five teams – Huntland, Richland, Eagleville, Fayetteville, and Moore County – all deadlocked at 3-2.

In that case, every team in the tie would have an identical 2-2 record against the other four, leaving the outcome to secondary tiebreakers, as set by the 2025-26 TSSAA Handbook:
1. The team with the greatest number of victories.
2. The team who plays the greatest number of teams who win 50% or more of their games.
3. The team who has the greatest number of victories over teams winning 50% or more of their games.
4. The team whose opponents have earned the most victories.
5. The team whose opponents have received fewer defeats.
6. Coin Flip

The bottom line: Moore County must take care of business – starting Friday night.