The Moore County Raiders struck first but were unable to keep the momentum as they fell to their heated rivals, the Huntland Hornets in the inaugural Majors Cup 33-12.

The game started good for the Raiders as they were able to stonewall the Hornets’ opening drive at the 5-yardline. The Raiders then mounted their own drive, pushing the pigskin all the way to their host’s 35 before stalling themselves. The end result was goose eggs on both sides of the scoreboard after the first quarter. However, the Raiders would change that early in the second as Drew Hardison capped a drive, sprinting 21 yards to pay dirt to give his squad a 6-0 after a missed extra point. Aiding the Raiders on the scoring drive were a pair of unsportsmanlike penalties by their chippie hosts – one of which brought about an ejection against Huntland. That would be the first of two Hornets tossed by officials on the night.

“What he has been doing all season. Doing the right things at practice, playing as hard as he can play, and it finally translated to him finding the end zone,” Moore County Head Coach Kris White, said regarding junior RB, Drew Hardison, who scored a 21-yard TD against Huntland.

The lead was short-lived as the Hornets polished off a 65-yard drive on three passing plays to go up 7-6 at the 7:40 mark of the first.

The score stuck until the last ticks of the second quarter when the Hornets converted on a fourth-and-four at the 9 and scored a touchdown to make it 13-6 heading to the half.

The Raiders had a chance to tie the game early in the third when Tucker Smith scored on a five-yard run at the 8:31 mark of the third. However, a second missed extra point left the tally at 13-12. The Raiders were then presented with another opportunity to take the momentum as they recovered a fumble on the resulting kick off. They were not able to cash in as they were stopped on downs.

The Hornets then gave themselves a bit of breathing room as the capped off their next drive with a five-yard dive to go up 20-12 at the 4:09 mark. The Hornets would add another TD at the end of their next drive to make it 26-13. The last touchdown was window dressing in the final ticks of the game when the hosts scored on a 63-yard run to set the final score and take the Majors Cup.

However, the enduring imprint left by the Huntland game will be the loss of playmaker Caseon Casteel to a leg injury, something that may keep him out for the season. Last year, the Raiders lost senior quarterback Gavin Wise in game-two of the season late in the game against Cascade.

“Like Gavin and Caseon they do things the right way in the classroom, the weight room, and at practice they are leaders. That is the frustrating thing, it’s the kids doing everything the right way,” said White on the frustration that comes with potentially losing another key player in back to back seasons, after Caseon Casteel got hurt against Huntland.