By Johnny Sanders, For the Tribune
MOODY — As they have done all year, the Moody Blue Devils made history Friday night at Bill Morris Stadium.
Moody quarterback Cole McCarty carries the ball during the Blue Devis playoff win over Jasper, Friday, November 4, 2022. (Photo by Ron Burkett)
With a 29-21 win over Jasper in the first round of the playoffs, Jake Ganus and his team eclipsed ten wins in a season for the first time in Moody football history.
“I’m so proud of our guys. We’ve had a rough week. We had 41 kids out with the flu this week at different times. Wednesday, we were without 27 guys,” said Ganus. “I’m so proud of these coaches because we were having to move guys around just to practice.”
Some of that would show, as Moody got off to a bit of a slow start and Jasper started the game with the ball and marched right down the field. Quarterback Spencer Rosenfeld finished the drive with an eight-yard run to put the visitors up 7-0 at the 9:30 mark of the first quarter, a score that held for the rest of the frame.
The second quarter was the Blaine Burke show as the Moody running back scored on three consecutive drives with runs of ten, 21, and 69 yards to paydirt. Burke would finish the night with 168 yards on 25 carries with three touchdowns.
Before the 69-yarder, Moody was driving and Cole McCarty threw an interception that Jasper’s Baylor Odom would return for a Viking touchdown. After Burke’s third touchdown, Moody executed a perfect onside kick and gave themselves a chance to go up by two scores before the half. However, the drive stalled out at the 17-yard-line as Moody took a 21-13 lead into the locker room.
The opening drive of the third quarter looked like the Moody that we have seen most of the year with a healthy dose of running and passing. McCarty found Aidan Robinson for a 23-yard touchdown to cap the drive off.
“We prepared all week for this. It was fun all night. It’s our first playoff game,” said Robinson. “Every game is just the next game, so we treated it just like another game.”
The Blue Devils defense would continue dominating on consecutive drives until McCarty threw his second interception of the night, setting Jasper up with good field position at the Blue Devils’ 30. Rosenfeld would then find Garrett Busby for a 30-yard touchdown to close the gap to 29-21.
Though Jasper would have a couple more chances, the Moody defense stood strong and held them off despite their best efforts to score. “I was kind of nervous. I haven’t ever been in the playoffs,” said defensive back Chase Jackson, “It feels good. We still have to put our heads down and work. Nothing is going to be given to us.”
“Playoff wins are tough. November football is what it’s about. You’ve got to find a way to win. We had a big chunk of our schedule where we could handle teams and do what we wanted to do,” said Ganus. “We faced adversity against Leeds. Our team is starting to mature in that area and the more adversity we face, the better we are. It’s win or go home.”
The second round of the playoffs means a road trip for Moody. They will travel to Arab to take on the 10-1 Knights who are coming off a 54-14 win over East Limestone.
