Raiders end skid with win at Cornersville
9:41 p.m. Oct. 24, 2025 • Updated: 1:39 p.m. Oct. 26, 2025
DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor
After seven consecutive losses, Moore County finally broke through Friday, Oct. 24 – and did it convincingly. Behind the one-two punch of Isaac Petty and Cole Taylor, the Raiders powered past Cornersville, 24-14, in a Region 5A matchup that showed just how far this team has come.
Petty threw for 92 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 131 more, and Taylor added 111 rushing yards, a touchdown, and six catches for 76 yards and two scores. The balanced attack, coupled with a disciplined defense that forced two turnovers, helped the Raiders (2-7, 1-3) earn their first win since the season opener.
“It finally showed as a collective group,” head coach Kris White said. “All the weeks of work came to a head the other night – when you get to your spots, block, and do what you’ve been coached to do, we can run the football.”
The Raiders opened with intent, moving the ball methodically behind Petty’s scrambles and Taylor’s versatility. A missed 30-yard field goal ended the first drive, but the tone was set: Moore County’s offense could move the chains.
Cornersville (4-5, 0-4) appeared to land the first blow when Hunter Uland broke free for an 86-yard touchdown – until a holding flag brought it back. “I told our guys all week that No. 3 [Uland] could go,” White said. “When he busted that first one and we saw the flag, I think our kids realized, ‘OK, if we’re not where we’re supposed to be, he can take it to the house.’”
In the second quarter, Taylor capped a 64-yard drive with a 4-yard keeper, and kicker Jax Ross added a 22-yard field goal moments later after a Cornersville fumble – forced by Kason Ferrara – gave Moore County great field position. The Raiders led 10-0 before Uland answered with a 30-yard touchdown to make it 10-7 at the half.
Midway through the third quarter, Petty connected with Taylor for a 10-yard score to extend the lead to 17-7. But Cornersville answered again late in the period with a short TD run from Uland to close the gap to 17-14.
The turning point came early in the fourth quarter when Ferrara – who also caused the earlier fumble – intercepted a pass in the red zone. “That was huge,” White said. “Two weeks ago, he got subbed out, but he handled it the right way. He didn’t pout. He kept working, and when his time came, he stepped up.”
From there, Petty and Taylor closed it out. Petty ripped off a 20-yard run, then hit Taylor on an 8-yard touchdown pass with just over three minutes left to seal the victory.
White credited the offensive line for the breakthrough night. “We’ve been getting better everywhere, but especially up front,” he said. “Friday, it finally showed. We changed some things – got to the line faster, picked up the pace – and it paid off.”
The coach also highlighted right guard Deacon Liles (starting in place of banged-up Alex Lynch) for his physical play: “He took it upon himself to push people down, knock them over. He took pride in it.”
Beyond the box score, White said this group has impressed him with its resilience. “I don’t know if I’ve ever been around a group that stayed so excited about playing football when they had every reason not to be,” he said. “Seven straight losses, and not one parent meeting, not one kid meeting. They just came to work every day.”
The Raiders’ fans, too, felt the relief. “Our parents were vocal Friday night,” White said, laughing. “They wanted it just as much for their kids as the kids wanted it.”
Moore County closes the regular season with Senior Night at home against Richland at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30. The win won’t be enough to reach the postseason – Richland’s victory over Fayetteville ended those hopes – but for White, this team’s story is already one of pride and perseverance.
“Sometimes,” he said, “you just have to put your head down and keep working. At some point, it pays off – and Friday night, it did.”
