Colonel_Reb
Hall of Famer
Jackson, Miss. Clarion Ledger
By Rod Walker
NETTLETON  Louisville's rifle-armed Clayton Moore has already established himself as one of the state's top junior quarterbacks.
But on Friday, it was Moore's legs that did the most damage.
Moore rushed for 155 yards and three touchdowns to lead Louisville to a convincing 42-14 victory over Nettleton in both teams' Region 2-3A opener before an estimated 3,500.
Louisville (2-2), ranked No. 2 in Class 3A, rushed for 323 yards in a game that was expected to be a quarterback duel between Moore and Nettleton's Jamie Boland.
"That's a big misconception about us," said Louisville coach Brad Peterson. "People think we're a spread, throw-the-ball-every down team, but that's not our style. We like to be 50-50. Obviously tonight we were probably about 90-percent run. This was a huge game with No. 2 against No. 3. We were concerned, but we wanted to run the football and we felt like we could."
Louisville's front line (Steven "Bear"Hunt, Emanuel Goss, Tate Rogers, Kyle Donald, and C-L Top 125 Senior Jarred Fleming) made sure of that, opening big holes.
"Our game plan was to pound them up the middle," said Moore, who completed 7 of 9 passes for 79 yards. "I just do whatever I'm asked to do, pass or run. We haven't had a chance to run the ball like we wanted to against Starkville, Wayne County and Kosciusko, but our line did a great job tonight. "
Nettleton (3-1), ranked No. 3 in 3A, played Louisville evenly through the game's first 20 minutes, tying it 14-14 on Boland's 1-yard run with four minutes, 33 seconds left in the second quarter. But Louisville didn't take long to answer, scoring 14 points to close out the half on touchdown runs by Dennis Thames and Moore.
Moore delivered the dagger early in the third, scampering 40 yards for another TD.
"Clayton's big and strong," said Peterson. "He thinks he's a fullback at times, trying to lower his head and run over people. He did a great job of running the offense tonight. Our offensive line was just dominating and our wide receivers did a great job blocking as well."
Thames finished with 107 yards and a pair of touchdowns, to go with an electrifying punt return to set up his first score.
The Wildcats' swarming defense wasn't too shabby either, keeping a usually explosive Tigers' offense in check.
"We got some pressure on them and I think they got hit some tonight and I credit our defense for that," said Peterson.
Boland, who tied the state record with 42 touchdowns last season, completed 14 of 22 passes for 169 yards, and running back Marcus Sanders finished with 141 yards, but it wasn't enough to get the Tigers in the end zone in the second half.
"Louisville has enough athletes to really make a run at a championship," said Nettleton coach Scott Cantrell. "They are big enough up front. Anytime they can stop you with just five in the box, you've got problems. They did a good job of putting pressure on our quarterbacks. It wasn't much we could do with that. They are just better right now."
Nettleton represented the North in the Class 3A state championship game last season, and now Louisville, which dropped from 4A, is hoping to do the same.
"As long as we play to our potential, keep our heads straight, and not take any opponents lightly, we can go as far as we want to go," said Moore. "We have the ability to do it, but we just have to keep fighting."
Edited by: Colonel_Reb
By Rod Walker
NETTLETON  Louisville's rifle-armed Clayton Moore has already established himself as one of the state's top junior quarterbacks.
But on Friday, it was Moore's legs that did the most damage.
Moore rushed for 155 yards and three touchdowns to lead Louisville to a convincing 42-14 victory over Nettleton in both teams' Region 2-3A opener before an estimated 3,500.
Louisville (2-2), ranked No. 2 in Class 3A, rushed for 323 yards in a game that was expected to be a quarterback duel between Moore and Nettleton's Jamie Boland.
"That's a big misconception about us," said Louisville coach Brad Peterson. "People think we're a spread, throw-the-ball-every down team, but that's not our style. We like to be 50-50. Obviously tonight we were probably about 90-percent run. This was a huge game with No. 2 against No. 3. We were concerned, but we wanted to run the football and we felt like we could."
Louisville's front line (Steven "Bear"Hunt, Emanuel Goss, Tate Rogers, Kyle Donald, and C-L Top 125 Senior Jarred Fleming) made sure of that, opening big holes.
"Our game plan was to pound them up the middle," said Moore, who completed 7 of 9 passes for 79 yards. "I just do whatever I'm asked to do, pass or run. We haven't had a chance to run the ball like we wanted to against Starkville, Wayne County and Kosciusko, but our line did a great job tonight. "
Nettleton (3-1), ranked No. 3 in 3A, played Louisville evenly through the game's first 20 minutes, tying it 14-14 on Boland's 1-yard run with four minutes, 33 seconds left in the second quarter. But Louisville didn't take long to answer, scoring 14 points to close out the half on touchdown runs by Dennis Thames and Moore.
Moore delivered the dagger early in the third, scampering 40 yards for another TD.
"Clayton's big and strong," said Peterson. "He thinks he's a fullback at times, trying to lower his head and run over people. He did a great job of running the offense tonight. Our offensive line was just dominating and our wide receivers did a great job blocking as well."
Thames finished with 107 yards and a pair of touchdowns, to go with an electrifying punt return to set up his first score.
The Wildcats' swarming defense wasn't too shabby either, keeping a usually explosive Tigers' offense in check.
"We got some pressure on them and I think they got hit some tonight and I credit our defense for that," said Peterson.
Boland, who tied the state record with 42 touchdowns last season, completed 14 of 22 passes for 169 yards, and running back Marcus Sanders finished with 141 yards, but it wasn't enough to get the Tigers in the end zone in the second half.
"Louisville has enough athletes to really make a run at a championship," said Nettleton coach Scott Cantrell. "They are big enough up front. Anytime they can stop you with just five in the box, you've got problems. They did a good job of putting pressure on our quarterbacks. It wasn't much we could do with that. They are just better right now."
Nettleton represented the North in the Class 3A state championship game last season, and now Louisville, which dropped from 4A, is hoping to do the same.
"As long as we play to our potential, keep our heads straight, and not take any opponents lightly, we can go as far as we want to go," said Moore. "We have the ability to do it, but we just have to keep fighting."
