A late touchdown pass from Carson Buckner to senior Ethan Jeff and four fourth quarter sacks from Joel McCormick help seal a 23 – 7 win over County rival Springville.  Up next for the Blue Devils is mighty Briarwood Christian coming to town to open region play. 

Moody and Springville got together in a slobber knocker last season at Moody with the Blue Devils coming out with the 8 – 7 victory.  Springville came into this year’s game looking to end a losing streak against Moody.    

The Blue Devils started their first drive of the season 1st and 10 from their own 32 yard line.  The highlight of the drive was a Carson Buckner 30 yard pass play to Garrett Dorsett to put the Blue Devils deep in Tiger territory.  The drive would later stall out and the Devils punted the ball away.  The Tigers offense could not get going in the first quarter and so we had a 0 – 0 score after the first quarter. 

Early in the second quarter the Tigers had the ball backed up deep in their own territory thanks to a couple of penalties.  Facing third and long the Tigers run the ball and sophomore Christian Archer (who had a big night on defense) tackled the call carrier in the backfield forcing the Tigers to punt the ball away to the Blue Devils.   

Thanks to a great return by Collin McNeel and a person foul penalty Moody was set up at the Springville 23 yard line.  On the very next play Kevon Franklin barreled his way through the Tiger defense for a 23-yard touchdown.  Hernan Mancilla’s extra point attempt was good.  Moody led 7 – 0 with 7:05 left in the half.   

The Blue Devil defense settled into the game and caused all kinds of issues for the Tigers offense.  On Springville’s next possession the Moody defense caused a fumble and recovered the ball at the Tiger 32 yard line.  Facing 3rd and long at the Tigers 47 Carson Buckner connected with another long pass play to Garrett Dorsett, this time for 27 yards and a Blue Devils touchdown.  Buckner later connected with Ethan Jeff for another big pass play to set them up in field goal range.  Hernan Mancilla 37 yard field goal attempt was good and Moody stretched it’s lead to 10 – 0.   

An interception by Christian Archer ended any scoring before the half hopes of the Tigers.  Moody held that 10 – 0 lead at half time.   

Thanks to a Moody special team’s mishap, with a snap over the punter’s head, Springville recovered the fumble at the Moody 9 yard line.  Two plays later the Tiger punch in the ball for a score.  The extra point was good and Springville cut the Blue Devil lead down to 10 – 7 with 8:46 left in the third quarter.  

Moody faced 4th and five at midfield on their next possession and was set up to punt the ball away.  A litter trickery by the Devils in the form of a fake punt direct snap to Collin McNeel who sprints for the first down, and tack on a 15 yard person foul penalty and Moody was set up at the Springville 22 yard line.  Two plays later Rashad Clark scored from 3 yards out.  The extra point was good and Moody opened back up a 10-point lead 17 – 7.   

On the Tigers next possession the turnover bug appeared again.  This time Ethan Mills causes a Springville ball carrier to fumble the ball and Christian Archer scooped up the ball and was looking to score, but fell short of the end zone.  Moody later attempted a 32-yard field goal but it was no good.  Moody still led 17 – 7 after three quarters.   

The Moody defense led by Ethan Mills, Ethan Jeff, Aidan Calvert, Mason Shockley and Christian Archer kept the Tigers offense at bay through three quarters.  Joel McCormick was the defensive closer for the night with 4 big sacks of the Tigers quarterback in the fourth quarter.  Moody got the ball back with the intension of closing out the Tigers and close them out they did.  Facing 3rd and 7 at the Springville 21, Buckner stepped back in the pocket and hit tight end Ethan Jeff in stride for a 21 yard touchdown.  The extra point failed, but Moody got the big win over rival Springville 23 – 7. 

The Moody defense was led by Ethan Mills , 11 tackles (three sacks), and a caused fumble.  Mason Shockley had 7 tackles; Joel McCormick had 6 tackles (4 sacks).  Christian Archer had 5 tackles, an interception, and fumble recovery. Aidan Calvert also added 5 tackles.  Ethan Jeff also added one sack and three receptions on offense for 50 yards and a touchdown.  Gamble and Kevon Franklin also added 1 sack each.  Garrett Dorsett had two huge receptions for 57 yards giving Carson Bucker 107 passing on the night.   

Moody will play two out of the next three at home starting with a region game at home tonight against the Briarwood Christian Lions.  Next week they will travel down to Columbiana to take on Shelby County and return home in two week for another big region game against the Pleasant Grove Spartans. 

Kick off for tonight season home opener is at 7 p.m.