Layton Dudley
Briarwood vs Moody
J.R. Tran-Reno looks to pass during a game between Briarwood and Moody on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, at Bill Morris Stadium in Moody.
If last year’s matchups are any indication, Friday night’s Class 5A, Region 5 showdown between the Briarwood Christian School football team and Wenonah will be a clash of powerful defenses and opportunistic offenses.
The region foes were pitted against each other twice last season, once in the regular season and again in the semifinals of the playoffs.
After Briarwood came back from a 14-0 deficit to win 15-14 on a late two-point conversion in the regular season matchup, Wenonah got its revenge in the playoff game, winning 14-8 behind a stout defense.
Despite the game being played relatively early in the season, it decided the region championship last year and could do so again this year, as Briarwood handed Wenonah its only region defeat, while the Lions ran the table.
"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," Briarwood head coach Fred Yancey said of the Dragons. "We're going to look forward to playing a great team next week."
The Lions and Dragons each come into the game boasting 2-0 marks, with each already notching a win against a region foe last week as well. Briarwood cruised to a 35-14 win over Moody, and Wenonah knocked off Woodlawn, 38-12.
"I was pleased that we showed a little improvement from the week before," said Yancey following the Moody win. "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 scored all five of its touchdowns on the ground in the game, with running backs JR Tran-Reno and Luke Prewett each scoring once, and quarterback Michael Hiers punching in the other three.
"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 its muscle 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."
Quarterback Carlos Rogers and running back Keontay Jones lead Wenonah’s offense. Rogers picked up three touchdowns on the ground in last week’s win over Woodlawn, with Jones rushing for 165 yards on 16 carries.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Friday at Lions Pride Stadium.
Patrick Deavours contributed to this report.
