Raiders host Cascade in home opener

6:53 a.m. Aug. 29, 2025

DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor

The Moore County Raiders return to Doug Price Field on Friday night for their home opener, welcoming the Cascade Champions in a non-Region matchup set for 7 p.m.

Head coach Kris White knows opening night in Lynchburg carries its own pressure.

“It’s another game. Yes, it’s at home, but I address it just like another game,” White contended. “To be honest, for us, it’s Game Two. It doesn’t matter where we’re playing – it’s just the next one.”

Moore County (1-0) comes in riding high after a 42-7 season-opening win at Community, where senior quarterback Gavin Wise delivered a flawless performance. Wise went a perfect 5-for-5 through the air for 103 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for another score.

White said what stood out most was Wise’s control of the offense. “He knew where the ball was supposed to go before the snap. That’s part of growth as a player – being comfortable enough to recognize what the defense gives you,” he said.

Wise’s top target, senior playmaker Cole Taylor, proved he can hurt defenses in multiple ways. Taylor scored three times – once on the game-opening kickoff return, once on a rushing play, and once on a reception – highlighting the versatility that makes him one of the Raiders’ most dangerous weapons.

The scoring wasn’t limited to Wise and Taylor, though. Running back Tucker Smith and receiver Isaac Petty each found the end zone, while Tristyn Gray, Westin Byrom, and Aidan Moore all contributed with key touches.

White said that balance is by design. “When you spread it around, defenses can’t just focus on one person,” he said. “We try to get 81 [Petty] and 2 [Taylor] the ball as much as we can, but we’ve got other weapons too.”

Up front, the Raiders are breaking in several first-year starters on the offensive line, and White graded the unit a “seven out of 10” in their first outing. He praised the effort of Buddy Qualls at right tackle and Tyler Bateman at center, noting that the mistakes on film are correctable.

“They did well for such a young group,” White said. “And the good thing is everything we saw on film is fixable.”

Cascade (1-0) will present a different kind of challenge than Community. The Champions spread the field with RPO concepts and pressure opposing defenses, while also attacking aggressively on defense. CHS whipped Cheatham County, 41-6, last week.

“They’ll put pressure on us defensively, and then they bring pressure on the other side of the ball too,” White said. “We’re going to have to be able to block because they’ll come after you.”

Moore County showed a new wrinkle in the opener by lining up in the I-formation for the first time in six years, and fans could see more experimentation this week.

“If we’ve practiced it and think it can help us, we’re going to run it,” White said. “Better to work the kinks out now than wait until Region play.”