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The Coffee County Middle Red Raiders struggled to score for a third straight game, losing to Warren County 16-0 on Tuesday evening in McMinnville.

After electing to defer their choice to the second half on the coin toss, the Red Raiders started the game on defense.

The Pioneers gained only four yards on their first three plays, hindered by a self-inflicted false start penalty, but on the fourth play, Warren County completed a 30-yard pass to Coffee County’s 38. From that point, the Pioneers only managed another five yards before turning the ball over on downs at the Raider 30.

Kaden Spencer ran thrice and Andrew Boles ran once in Coffee County’s first four plays for a first down, but on the fifth play, Tripp Trussler was dropped for a five-yard loss. The Red Raiders couldn’t gain another first down in the next three plays, turning it over on downs at their own 47.

Warren County’s second drive of the game and first drive of the second quarter would only last four plays, but this time the result would be eight points. The Pioneers broke through for a 26-yard gain on the first play of the series, then reached the end zone on the next three plays to score what would end up being the game-deciding touchdown and two point conversion with 5:11 left in the first half.

Coffee County’s next drive resulted in a three-and-out, with the third play being flagged for intentional grounding on Boles. Backed up at their own 32, the Raiders punted to the Pioneer 46.

The Pioneers, ever elusive in their ground attack, gained 43 yards in four plays to put themselves on the Coffee County 11, but a fumbled snap and three incomplete passes resulted in another turnover on downs. The Red Raiders ran one rushing play before the half, still trailing 8-0.

Coffee County began the second half with the ball at their own 47, reaching the Warren County 41 in six plays, but on the seventh play, a pass by Boles was intercepted by the Pioneers, who took over on their own 37.

The next Warren County drive proved to be the longest of the game, lasting 14 plays and ending at the 6:15 mark of the fourth period. Despite a couple of penalties, the Pioneers reached the end zone and completed a two-point conversion for a second time to take a 16-0 lead.

Things went from bad to worse for the Red Raiders. Set to receive on the ensuing kickoff, Coffee County failed to recover a low and short kick by the Pioneers, who found themselves back with the football on the Raider 49.

Warren County was unable to capitalize on the kickoff blunder, turning it over on downs at their own 49.

On their fourth drive of the game, the Red Raiders made some steady gains on the first six plays to reach the Warren County 29, but the next four plays resulted in a loss of eight yards, and the Pioneers took over and ran the clock down to zero.

The Coffee County Middle Red Raiders fall to 0-3 on the season, and they will still be in search of their first offensive touchdown when they travel to Bridgeforth on Tuesday, Aug. 26. Kickoff for that game is set for 6:30 p.m.