MOORE — Coach Scott Myers has been part of many Moore-Westmoore football games. From his assistant coaching days to now as the man in charge at MHS, he’s seen it all.
However, Myers said that even though the records, coaches and players may change, Moore War has stayed the same.
“It’s Moore War,” Myers said. “It’s a rivalry. Throw everything out. Doesn’t matter what’s going on or how good your are. I’ve been in it when we have both been top 5 programs in the state. Been in it when we weren’t top 5 programs. And it’s all the same. Both teams getting after it. It will be exciting.”
The 28th installment of Moore War will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the newly renovated Moore Stadium. Despite both teams combining for only three wins in 2009, the game is still expected to draw more than 10,000 fans.
Westmoore leads the overall count at 15-11. That includes a nine game winning streak that is implanted on the Moore players minds.
“It’s been nine years,” MHS senior Trystyn Kirby said. “It would be huge for us as a team. We need this. It will help us get momentum. That’s what we need.”
Despite the success, the Jaguars’ seniors are not only excited to try and end their careers without ever losing to the Lions, just playing in the game itself means a lot.
“It’s crazy,” Westmoore senior Cody Cates said. “Every year it’s a big deal. Been waiting for it since you are little. So finally its here. It’s a pretty big deal.”
While Myers is a constant at Moore entering his third year, Westmoore has undergone another change at head coach. Billy Langford, who was an assistant coach at Mustang last year, will not only be experiencing his first Moore War, but it also will be his first game as a head coach.
Yet, Moore War has always been about the players. And for much of the past decade, it’s been the Jaguars who had the playmakers to pull out games. This year they will look to runningback Cody Feuerborn to carry the load and get a few big plays from quarterbacks Lionard Fombe and Trevor Thompson.
But the Jags strength lies in the trenches with Tyler Newton, who is looking forward to his final Moore War.
“It’s definitely a lot bigger because it’s my senior year,” Newton said. “I don’t want to be that team that lost to Moore. It’s a big deal. You look forward to playing in it when you are little. It’s finally here.”
The Lions will look to quarterback Vova Razryvin to help break the Jaguars winning streak. The 5-foot-11, 170 pound senior is starting his second Moore War and brings more confidence into this season.
But the players know every player will have to play at their best to come away with a win.
“We have to execute,” Moore’s Billy Wood said. “Do everything we know we are supposed to do. Keep our assignments is the biggest thing. If we do what we need to do, we are going to get the job done.”
Rivalry games bring out every emotion associated with football. And it’s usually the team that gets past the pageantry and settles in the fastest that increases their chances of winning. But the coaches know that’s easier said than done.
“Until it happens, you really can’t prepare for it,” Myers said. “The point of where you can’t breathe type deal until you settle in and get after it.”
Michael Kinney 366-3537 Mkinney@mooreamerican.com
