Lions dominate Moody
BIRMINGHAM -- Briarwood Christian School senior quarterback William Gray plays fantasy football.
He may now have to consider drafting himself.
Gray completed all five of his passes for 190 yards and four touchdowns -- all in the first half -- in a 42-6 drubbing of Class 5A, Region 5 opponent Moody on Friday night. Gray also rushed for a touchdown in the first half.
Gray said he’s never had that successful of a game.
“I’m very thankful to the team,” Gray said. “The blocking was great, the play-calling was awesome and the receivers really went out and made plays. I’m very thankful for that.”
After falling 43-15 at Chelsea last week, Briarwood (1-1) worked on the passing game leading up to Friday’s game against Moody.
“I feel like all that hard work just paid off,” Gray said.
Gray’s first pass of the game was to the left side to junior Carson Eddy, who took it 64 yards to pay dirt. Eddy ran it in for the two-point conversion to give the Lions an 8-0 lead just a minute into the game. On Briarwood’s next possession, Gray connected with senior wide receiver Luke Miskelley for a 26-yard touchdown to give the Lions a 15-0 advantage.
Briarwood scored for the third time in as many possessions with 3:25 left in the first quarter when Gray plunged into the end zone from one yard out. The Lions took a 28-0 lead in the first quarter when Gray hit Eddy for a 24-yard touchdown.
On Briarwood’s first play of the second quarter, Gray tossed a 57-yard strike to Miskelley to take a commanding 35-0 lead. Midway through the second quarter, Eddy broke free for a 33-yard touchdown run to give the Lions a 42-0 halftime lead.
Moody sophomore Rashad Clark scampered 14 yards for Moody’s lone touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
Briarwood head coach Fred Yancey said he “played it too close to the vest” in last week’s loss at Chelsea. He said he wanted to add more variety against Moody.
“That was a great start to region play,” Yancey said.
For Briarwood, Eddy caught two passes for 88 yards and two scores. He also rushed three times for 43 yards and a touchdown. Miskelley grabbed two passes for 83 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore John Tran-Reno rushed five times for 22 yards. Junior Jonathan Hill added 22 rushing yards on nine carries. In the second half, sophomore quarterback Mason Algren completed all three of his passes to classmate Alex Key for 17 yards.
For Moody (1-1), Clark rushed eight times for 44 yards and the touchdown. Gabe Webb added 65 rushing yards on 14 carries. The Briarwood defense held Moody to 145 total yards, and just one passing yard.
The story of the night, however, was Gray.
“William is one of the hardest working kids I’ve ever coached,” Yancey said. “He’s got talent to throw and run. This was a good lift for him to encourage him that the hard work he’s been doing is paying off.”
Briarwood travels to region foe Wenonah next week.
“They’re big and athletic, and we’re going to have our hands full,” Gray said. “We’re going to give it our best.”