Lions pick up 1st region win

MOODY -- The Lions kicked off Class 5A, Region 5 play on a winning note Friday night, defeating Moody 35-14. 

"I was pleased that we showed a little improvement from the week before," said Briarwood Christian School head coach Fred Yancey. "That's what we needed to do. I thought Moody came out and played a hard game, and so we had to respond and I was pleased with tonight's performance."

Briarwood dominated on the ground from the start of the game, and JR Tran-Reno led the Lions with 91 yards rushing and a touchdown. 

"We really wanted to come out and get better tonight," Tran-Reno said. "That was the main thing, improved from last week. I thought we got better."

Tran-Reno was not alone on the rushing attack. Luke Prewett added 58 yards and a score, while quarterback Michael Hiers got into the end zone three times on the ground.

"The offensive line did a great job pushing it down and made a nice clear path for me. They made my job pretty easy," said Hiers.

The Lions defense flexed their muscles at Bill Morris Stadium as well, allowing just 121 total yards. Gabriel Russell and Joseph Munganast each added a sack, and Jonathan Hill picked off a Blue Devil pass in the third quarter. Yancey said he was pleased with the defensive effort.

"If we're going to have a good team this year,  and I think we will, it will be because the defense holds up their end of the bargain," Yancey said. "Tonight, they really came out and played well."

The Lions improve to 2-0 on the season and 1-0 in region play. Briarwood hosts Wenonah (2-0) next week, a team the Lions split games with last year.

"It'll be a big region game because they're a quality team. They've won 10 games a bunch of years in a row so we know they've got a great program," Yancey said of the Dragons. "We're going to look forward to playing a great team next week."

Added Hiers: "I just look forward to competing in a rematch in last year's semifinals. It should be a great game."