Moore Lions 2023 Football Preview

MOORE LIONS

The Moore Lions got off to an impressive 3-0 start to begin the 2022 season in Greg Bryant’s first season as the lead Lion. Averaging nearly a 24-point margin of victory in those games, Moore lost its first game – a district tussle with rival Westmoore – by ten points followed by a road loss to the Enid Plainsmen, 49-35.

The Lions then picked up their fourth and final win of the season against Southmoore. They ran the gauntlet of Jenks, Norman North, Bixby and Broken Arrow to close out 2022 with a 4-6 overall record.

While the results weren’t the most desirable, Bryant knows there are some intangible benefits derived from the experience.

“We now have several young players who experienced some varsity time that has prepared them for their high school careers, not only on the field but in the locker room, too,” he shared.

The Lions have 17 seniors leading the team this year.

With a year under his belt as head coach, Bryant, along with the team, is eager to show improvement and position themselves for a playoff berth in the always-competitive Class 6A-1.

OFFENSE

Offensively, the Lions will keep with the spread offense, with six returning players that produced an average of 40 points per game in 2022.

Leading the attack offensively will be senior Cam Hayes (5’10”, 180lbs) who had an impressive junior season picking up 750 yards on 103 carries. He has also captured the attention of coaches to play at the college level.

One of the keys to Hayes’ success will be the air attack led by two junior wideouts, CJ Simon and Makai Crenshaw. Simon (6’, 165lbs) ended 2022 with 64 total catches, gaining 946 yards. He had a breakout game against Broken Arrow last season that elevated his abilities. Crenshaw (6’4”, 175lb) had an attention-getting 2022 finishing with 310 yards on 20 receptions.

Along with the wide receivers, the Lions have a tandem of tight ends that will not only serve as receivers but provide additional blocking for the ground game. Juniors Hayden Stull (6’3”, 225lbs) and Nick Carden (6’5”, 215lbs) both have the size and ability to keep the offense going as options for the passing game.

Of course, no offense is effective unless the linemen create running lanes and maintain effective pass protection. The Lions have two seniors – both getting serious looks to play at the next level – to help lead the O-linemen. Noah Wood (6’4”, 285lbs), who had 33 knockdowns last year, and Koehn Garner (6’3”, 315lbs) will be called upon all season to keep the Lions heading in a positive direction offensively.

DEFENSE

The Lions’ defense, with eight defensive returning players, had an impressive start last season, giving up an average of 22 points in the first three games. Overall, Moore’s defense surrendered almost 41 points each game while the offense generated over 40. For the Lions to be successful, the defense will be called upon to be stronger and repel scoring onslaughts in a district stacked with some of the most explosive offenses in the state.

Up front, two big seniors will anchor the D-line for Moore. Kai Campbell (6’2”, 330lbs), who has the eye of some college recruiters, and Ashton McKinsey (6’5”, 225lbs) will be two of the three down linemen in the Lions’ 3-4 defensive alignment. McKinsey finished last year with 30 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and one sack.

The next tier of the Lions’ defense – the linebackers – will boast a trio of hitters. Two of the LBs will becalled upon to go both ways: Stull and Carden. Junior Cesar Garcia (6’2”, 220lbs) will join them to disrupt RBs or receivers coming across the middle and keep opponents from charging into the secondary.

The Lions’ secondary will feature senior Corey Dean (6’, 180lbs) and junior Johnathan Alexander (5’11”, 165lbs). Opposing QBs will think twice about throwing into the direction of Dean who finished last year with 18 passes broken up.

Bryant has a secret weapon with a senior placekicker who is not only the top kicker in Oklahoma but is also ranked #5 nationally. Liam Evans (5’10”, 175lbs) has been contacted by a few Power 5 conference schools prior to his senior campaign getting underway. Evans, who has had only one kickoff returned for a TD in his career, nailed a 42-yard field goal in a game and made a 66-yarder in practice. With a talent of that magnitude, Evans’ leg can be called on to keep the Lions close, if not win a game or two.

Looking ahead at the schedule, the Lions will be challenged from the start with non-district games against Edmond Memorial, Edmond North and Norman. Two

of those three games will be played at Moore Schools Stadium. The annual Moore War with Westmoore will be played on Sept. 22. The Lions will then be looking into the teeth of the season with Enid, Southmoore, Jenks (away), Norman North, Bixby (away) and Broken Arrow. The Bixby Spartans are the defending Class 6A champions.

Bryant is very pleased with the development of the Lions in the offseason.

“We’ve been having a great off-season and those returning have shown improvement in size, speed and strength,” he said.

One aspect of the program which Bryant keeps a close eye on is team cohesiveness.

“The Lion football culture has grown stronger, and we have great team connectiveness,” he shared.– 19SM