Raiders lose to Cascade, 17-10
9:55 p.m. Aug. 29, 2025
Jeff Reed Photography
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DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor
The Moore County Raiders made their 2025 home debut on Friday, Aug. 29. However, the visiting Cascade Champions spoiled the evening, handing the Raiders a 17-10 defeat in front of a packed crowd.
Moore County came out strong on the game’s opening drive, with quarterback Gavin Wise connecting with Tucker Smith and Cole Taylor to move the chains. Isaac Petty’s tough rushing kept the drive alive, and Wise converted on fourth down with a keeper inside the Cascade 5-yard line.
The Raiders thought they had struck first on a touchdown toss to Tristyn Gray, but a pass interference penalty erased the score. Two incompletions later, Moore County turned the ball over on downs.
Cascade responded with a steady march into Raider territory as the first quarter expired scoreless. Early in the second, the Champions broke through with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Sam Bradley to Braxtyn Burris and a successful PAT for a 7-0 lead.
The Raiders appeared to answer immediately when Petty sprinted the ensuing kickoff back for a touchdown, but another flag wiped it out. After a stalled series, Cascade extended the margin with a short field goal by Gabe Perez-Rubio to go up 10-0 late in the half.
Moore County refused to fold. With less than a minute before halftime, Wise found Aidan Moore for a key third-down conversion, then hit Smith to push the ball inside the Cascade 35. With five seconds left, Wise connected with Luke Stephens for a 31-yard strike. Jax Ross added the extra point to pull the Raiders within 10-7 at the break.
Cascade struck quickly in the third quarter, capitalizing on a 56-yard touchdown pass to Corey Gooch to make it 17-7. The Champions nearly put the game out of reach after an interception gave them prime field position, but Moore County’s defense held firm, forcing a turnover on downs.
The Raiders clawed back within striking distance when Ross drilled a 24-yard field goal late in the third to trim the deficit to 17-10.
The fourth quarter became a battle of attrition. Moore County’s defense stopped Cascade on downs, and the Raiders pushed into Champions territory behind Petty’s running and Wise’s completions. With just under seven minutes to play, Wise rolled out and fell untouched to the turf, forcing Petty into emergency duty at quarterback. A grounding penalty stalled the drive, and Cascade drained the remaining minutes off the clock.
The Raiders’ defense held tough until the final seconds, but Cascade converted a late first down and knelt out the clock from the Moore County 13-yard line to seal the win.
Bradley tallied more than 280 yards of total offense, rushing for 92 and passing for 191 and two scores.
Wise finished 12 of 25 for 130 yards, a TD, and one interception. Petty had a team-high 16 carries for 93 yards. Tucker Smith was the leading receiver with 34 yards on three catches. He also paced the defense with 11 tackles.
An MRI is scheduled for Tuesday to evaluate Wise’s injury.
Cascade (2-0) snapped a three-game losing streak against Moore County. The Raiders (1-1) host Goodpasture at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 5.
