The Wood Is On Fire: Lakewood Wins The Moore League Title

It has been more than three decades since the Lakewood Lancers had won the Harry J. Moore League championship in football outright.

On Friday, November 13, Thadd MacNeal's club ended a 35-year wait with 35 points in the second half en route to a 42-6 victory over the Wilson Bruins at Woodrow Wilson Classical High School in Long Beach, California.

The Lancers finish the regular season 9-1 (6-0 in league play) and await their opponent in the CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division playoffs.

The championship is Lakewood's first since 1983, when they shared the title with the Long Beach Polytechnic Jackrabbits at 4-0-1 in league play.

After a lackluster first half that saw a muffed punt, Lakewood quarterback Jesse Scrogginsthrow two interceptions and the Bruin defense frustrate the Lancer offense, tailback Terrance Woods felt he had enough of the bleeding.

His 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown brought a renewed energy back to the visitors. "It feels even better than I expected," Woods said after the game. "They played us very tough, but we weren't worried. We just needed to play Lakewood football and do something big."

Indeed, they did. And MacNeal put the contest in perspective.

"I was three in 1974," he said after the match. "It's a great feeling. (Wilson) played us hard, pressured us. 

"I told the kids at halftime that we made some mistakes but we had stood up to them several times in the red zone."

Scroggins made up for his blunders by utilizing his weapons: tailbacks Woods, Rashad Wadood and Alley Long, and wideouts Kevin Anderson and Chris Davis.

It culminated in two scores: a 21-yard pass to Davis and a 14-yard strike to Anderson that was set up by the shiftiness of Wadood.

Lakewood defensive back Dion Bailey, who will commit to USC next year with Scroggins, picked off a pass by Wilson quarterback Brett Harper 66 yards to make it 28-6.

Led by defensive lineman Justin Utupo (who will commit to Notre Dame next year) and Todd Barr, linebacker Keanu Kalolo and defensive backs Brennan Kelly and Bailey, the Lancer defense limited Wilson (6-4, 4-2 league) to 61 net yards in three quarters while Harper was a dismal 1-for-13 passing for three yards.

Wilson's points came at the feet of kicker Alex Boy, who slotted home field goals from 27 and 42 yards out.