Richland scores 21 unanswered in third to sink Raiders

DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor

A 34-yard trick play pulled Moore County within six points early in the third quarter Thursday night. Just over seven minutes later, the Raiders trailed by 27.

Richland scored 21 unanswered points in the third quarter on its way to a 41-27 victory in the Region 5-1A season finale, handing Moore County its ninth consecutive loss.

Collin Cagle scored three rushing touchdowns for Richland, including a 70-yard run late in the third quarter. Moore County (1-9, 0-5) never recovered despite scoring twice in the fourth.

Moore County's only victory came Aug. 21, when coach Kris White's Raiders defeated Community 27-7 in the season opener.

Raiders control opening quarter

Moore County took the opening kickoff and spent more than nine minutes running the football, moving the chains, and keeping Richland's offense on the sideline.

Starting at their own 21, the Raiders leaned heavily on senior Tucker Smith, while freshman quarterback Austin Scherff and senior Deacon Liles delivered key third-down conversions. Liles rumbled to the Richland 12 on third-and-1, and Smith later powered forward on fourth-and-1 to keep the possession alive near the goal line.

A false-start penalty pushed Moore County backward, but Scherff found senior Westin Byrom for a 7-yard touchdown pass. Jaxson Ross added the extra point, giving the visitors a 7-0 lead with 2:56 remaining in the first quarter.

The opening drive consumed 9:04, and Moore County held Richland scoreless through the first 12 minutes. That lead disappeared on the opening play of the second quarter when Cagle broke loose for a 47-yard touchdown run. The extra point tied the game at 7.

Moore County's next possession stalled, and Richland took over at its own 32. Cagle broke another long run, reaching the Moore County 11. The Raiders stopped him for no gain on first down and dropped him for a 1-yard loss on second, but Cagle scored on third-and-11.

The extra point put Richland ahead 14-7 with 7:32 remaining before halftime.

Moore County moved the chains on its next possession behind Smith and a 6-yard completion from Scherff to senior Kason Ferrara. A false-start penalty and a sack eventually forced another punt.

Richland quarterback Kamdan Drake then connected with Tucker Knight on a long completion to the Moore County 11. The hosts worked inside the 5 before Hudsen Griggs scored on third down.

The 2-point conversion failed, leaving Richland ahead 20-7 with 1:12 remaining. Moore County couldn't answer before halftime.

Trick play pulls Raiders within six

Moore County's defense gave the visitors an opportunity early in the third quarter, stopping Cagle short of a first down on fourth-and-3.

Smith opened the ensuing possession with a run to the Richland 34. On the next snap, Scherff got the ball to freshman Paxson Embrey, who threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Smith. Ross converted the extra point, cutting Richland's lead to 20-14 with 9:09 remaining.

Drake connected with Griggs on a completion to the Moore County 21, then kept the ball himself for a 21-yard touchdown run. Richland converted the 2-point attempt, stretching its lead to 28-14 with 7:37 remaining.

Just 77 seconds later, Brody Waldran intercepted a Scherff pass and returned it for a touchdown. The extra point failed, but Richland's advantage had grown to 34-14.

Moore County tried to answer behind Smith and Drew Hardison, who converted a third-and-1. Penalties pushed the Raiders backward, however, and the possession ended on an incomplete fourth-down pass.

Richland took over at its own 30, and Cagle covered the remaining 70 yards on the first play for his third touchdown. The extra point pushed the hosts' lead to 41-14 with 1:45 remaining in the third quarter.

Raiders score twice in fourth-quarter rally

Moore County carried its next possession into the fourth quarter after Byrom picked up a first down on a double reverse. The drive ended on downs, but the Raiders' defense forced a punt, giving Smith another opportunity.

Starting at the Moore County 25, Smith ripped off a 70-yard run to the Richland 5. Hardison finished the drive, powering off the left side for a touchdown.

The extra-point attempt failed, leaving Richland ahead 41-20 with 8:33 remaining.

Moore County forced another punt and moved into Richland territory behind Embrey before an interception ended the possession. The defense held again, giving Scherff one final opportunity.

The freshman found Embrey on a completion to the Richland 18. Penalties complicated the drive, but Scherff went back to Embrey on third down for an 18-yard touchdown pass. Ross converted the extra point, trimming Richland's lead to 41-27 with 1:55 remaining.

Richland took the ensuing kickoff and ran out the clock with three kneel-downs. Moore County outscored the hosts 13-0 in the fourth quarter.

Final whistle for 11 seniors

Thursday marked the end of the high school football careers of Moore County's 11 seniors: Tyler Bateman, Westin Byrom, Jerry Carter, Chris Dingler, Kason Ferrara, Ike Holt, Deacon Liles, Alex Lynch, Aidan Moore, Jaxson Ross, and Tucker Smith. Holt had already been sidelined by a season-ending injury.

Smith was central to Moore County's offense throughout the night, helping sustain the long opening drive, catching Embrey's 34-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter, and breaking the 70-yard fourth-quarter run that set up Hardison's touchdown. Byrom caught the game's first touchdown, Liles helped move the chains, and Ferrara contributed in the passing game.

Scherff threw touchdown passes to Byrom and Embrey, while fellow freshman Embrey completed the 34-yard scoring pass to Smith on the third-quarter trick play and caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from Scherff in the fourth. Embrey also contributed on the ground.

Richland finished 3-7 overall and 1-4 in Region 5-1A, while Moore County closed at 1-9 and winless in five region games.

Moore County had fallen behind by 27 points, but the Raiders kept playing, cutting that deficit nearly in half with two fourth-quarter touchdowns.

At the end, Richland took three knees to finish the game, and for those 11 Moore County seniors, there would be no next game.