MOORE — For the first time since 2021, the Moore Lions are city champions.
Moore defeated Southmoore 45-13 at Lions Stadium on Friday night behind a four-touchdown performance from running back Jaeden Williams and two scores from receiver Jonnell Alexander.
“The way this offense works is through our quarterback. They were doing some things to take away some of our deeper shots and throws and really the mindset was, tonight, he’s [Malikai Miller] got to play point guard and distribute the ball and put the ball in positions that they can’t cover. We have a lot of people on our offense that are certainly really, really good. Jaeden’s a tough runner. Jonnell’s a fantastic wide receiver. But I’m really, really impressed with our quarterback, Malikai, as far as him just working the field and playing with what he has.”
The Lions assumed a 21-0 lead in the first quarter. On top of Williams’ two early touchdowns, he had a 70-yard run that set up a 3-yard touchdown throw to Ozias Adams.
“Offense played great, I think,” Williams said. “We just played good as a team, overall. . . Short passes and running outside. They [Southmoore’s defense] had, like, eight in the box, so when we bounced it outside it was just free grass to run in.”
The SaberCats responded on Tylenn Diggs’s 50-yard field goal in the second frame. A 28-yard Gray Evans field goal answered and set the Lions up for a 24-6 lead. The SaberCats struggled to find footing again Friday night.
“Since Westmoore game and since fall camp, we’ve had some [defensive] guys up front that have been really explosive,” Bryant said. “We’re going to continue to do things that help them out, but I’ve been impressed with just the way our guys run to the ball. Great effort, their overall aggression. We’re going to continue to get better as far as what they’re doing.”
Miller, Williams, Alexander and the Lions offense continued to handle business into the second half.
“It feels good, man. It hasn’t been in Moore in a minute,” Miller said. “We just got the job done. The boys came out here to play. Jaeden Williams made a statement. My guy starting T’ing up when we needed him to. Jonnell, man, that’s a dog. He might’ve dropped a couple, but it’s always about how you come back, and he came back in the game and he made plays when we needed him to. They [coaching staff] really deserved it. They put a lot of time into the guys. I wanted this more for everybody else rather than me.”
“It’s really good for our kids and our school,” Lions third-year head coach Greg Bryant said. “The city title, the Battle of the Big Cats, it’s a culmination of all the work these guys have been putting in for years. A lot of these seniors have been playing in some capacity for three years now on varsity, building the culture, doing what we need them to do as far as growing this program. . . This is definitely the result of a process we’ve been doing.”