By Johnny Sanders, For the Tribune
GADSDEN — The Southside Panthers welcomed the Moody Blue Devils to Barney Hood Stadium Friday night in a game that would decide the number 2 team in 5A Region 6 and guarantee the winner a home game in the first round of the playoffs.
Moody Head Coach Jake Ganus discusses strategy with wide receivers Davion Dozer (#4) and Kolby Seymour (#3) Friday, October 21. (Photo by Johnny Sanders)
Though they started a bit slow, Moody relied on a dominant running game and a suffocating defense to clinch the runner-up position in the region, winning 35-13.
‘The game started with both teams trading punts and Southside getting deep into Moody territory, but missing a field goal. Moody’s second drive lasted just two plays, both runs by Blaine Burke. The first was 33 yards and the second was a 47-yard blast that was responsible for the first points of the night.
Southside answered the opening score after Moody gave them good field position on a failed onside kick, Quarterback Brooks Nesmith found pay dirt from 18 yards out with just over two minutes to go in the first quarter.
The second quarter started with a Moody touchdown drive that was capped off by Cole McCarty calling his own number from the eight-yard line to put Moody up 14-7 with 7:55 to play in the half.
Southside was held to another punt but a Blaine Burke fumble gave the Panthers the ball back at the Moody 19. They made it as far as the three-yard line as the Moody defense held on a fourth down and gave them the ball back to finish the half.
“We shot ourselves in the foot with penalties (in the first half) and the turnover on offense. We were moving the ball and having some success and the defense was playing their brains out,” said Jake Ganus of the first-half performance.
The third quarter didn’t start great for Moody as they drove the ball to the Southside 25. However, McCarty threw an interception to give Southside the ball back.
The Moody defense got the ball right back two plays later as Chase Jackson would pick off a Nesmith pass to set the Blue Devils up with good field position, just 27 yards from the end zone. Burke got the call on second down, obliterating a defender on his way to another touchdown.
“I attribute runs like that to our offseason training program. Coach Cam Willis helps us out a lot in strength and conditioning,” said Burke of the run.
The Blue Devil defense continued to dominate, setting Burke up for yet another touchdown to close out the third quarter, this time from 15 yards out.
Moments later Southside fumbled the ball, giving it back to the Moody offense and giving Burke the chance to cap off a 20-carry, 234-yard night with an 8-yard touchdown, his fourth.
Late in the fourth quarter, Moody gave up another Southside touchdown, but by that time the game was over. With the exception of a couple of plays, the Moody defense was dominant.
Defensive leader Amon Lane said, “We all trust our coaches. We have great coaches who make great calls. We just work hard and we really believe we can do this. We want to get this for our seniors.”
Moody finishes the regular season at 9-1 and runners up in the region. “It means everything. Ganus said he and his young Blue Devils squad aren’t satisfied by any means.
“We are about to enter into a new season in the playoffs where we are 0-0. Only one team is going to go 5-0 in the playoffs. Only one team will get to hold the blue map. Everyone else is going to lose,” said Ganus.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” Ganus added. “I’m proud of my kids. Proud of my staff and this community for rallying behind these guys. I’m just so proud to be at Moody.”
Moody gets a bye next week before welcoming Jasper to “The Bill” in first-round playoff action.
