The Moody Blue Devils and the St. Clair County Saints renewed their rivalry last Friday night, and it was hard fought from the opening kickoff to the final play. The Saints held on for the win, ending a five game losing streak to the Blue Devils.

The meeting between the Blue Devils and the Saints was everything a rivalry game should be. Kyle Ivy got the game started with a bang by taking the opening kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown. The extra point was good and twelve seconds in, Moody was up 7 – 0.

The Saints answered right back, but in the form of a long drive. The drive lasted fourteen plays and was kept alive when Saints quarterback Jayce Fisher hit Grayson Beatty for an eight yard gain on 4th and 1 at their own 34. Fisher later connected with speedy receiver Javarious Johnson for a 14 yard touchdown. The extra point failed and Moody held a 7 – 6 lead.

Ivy struck again for the Blue Devils with a kickoff return all the way to the Saints fifteen yard line. Two plays later, stud running back Gabe Webb carried defenders into the end zone for a fourteen yard touchdown. The extra point was good and Moody now led 14 – 6.

The Saints came right back with another score, this time in much faster fashion. Fisher connected with Johnson once again, this time for a 71 yard touchdown. The two-point attempt failed, but at the end of the first quarter, the shootout was on, with Moody leading the way at 14 – 12.

After nonstop scoring in the first quarter, there was only one score in the second quarter. Big runs from Moody quarterback Karson Buckner (17 yards), Kyle Ivy (20 yards), and Gabe Webb (10 yards) meant Moody was looking at first and goal at the Saints 10. Three plays later, Webb bulled his way into the end zone from five yards out. The extra point was good and Moody led 21 – 12.

The two teams picked up where they left off in the second half. The Saints threw the first punch of the third quarter with another big play. Fisher and Johnson connected for a 67 yard touchdown. The extra point was good and the Saints now only trailed two points with the score sitting at 21 – 19.

Moody came right back with a big play of their own for their answer. Gabe Webb powered his way free for a 34 yard touchdown. In fact he had fifty-nine of the 60 yards on that drive. The extra point was good and Moody increased it lead to 27 – 19.

The Saints gave a touchdown, but raised the Blue Devils for the next two scores. The first score came when Fisher threw a 19 yard frozen rope to Noah Bruce in the back of the end zone to bring the Saints to with three points 28 – 25. The second score came from Junior ‘do everything’ Grayson Beatty with a 75 yard touchdown catch to give the Saints their first lead of the night, 32 – 28 after three quarters.

Moody answered once again in the fourth quarter. Gabe Webb had been making big runs all night and he did it once again on this drive, this time with a 64 yard run all the way to the Saints 4 yard line. Two plays later Webb punched in his fourth touchdown of the night to give Moody a 35 -32 lead.

The Saints had the final say so in this rivalry. Fisher and Johnson hooked up for their fourth touchdown of the night, this time from 13 yards out. Senior running back Justin Mayo made his return for the Saints and made his presence known during this drive and throughout the second half. The extra point was good and the Saints led 39 – 35 with 4:36 left in the game.

Saints linebacker Grayson Beatty made the last two tackles for loss against the Blue Devils on their final drive to win the game. The Saints got the ball and went into victory formation to end their five game losing streak to arch rival Moody with a final score of 39 – 35.

Jayce Fisher and Javarious Johnson led the way for the Saints offense. Fisher had six touchdown passes and Johnson caught four of those passes. Grayson Beatty and Noah Bruce caught one touchdown each.

Kyle Ivy had a kickoff return for a touchdown and his fifth extra point block of the season. Gabe Webb was a beast on the ground with 4 touchdowns of his own and 188 yards rushing. Ethan Mills led the defense with 14 tackles, Darrian Green and Colby Bush each had 10 tackles. Hunter Winslett had seven, and T.J Johnson, Chase Kelly and Ethan Jeff each had 6 tackles.

Moody falls to 2 – 6 (1 – 4) on the season. They will travel to Fairfield tomorrow night in region play and return home for senior night next Friday against Plainview.