Moody Makes History Capturing First State Football Title
BIRMINGHAM, AL – Moody High School has secured its first-ever state football title, defeating Vigor 25-0 to capture the Class 5A championship. On a rainy Thursday night at Protective Stadium, the Blue Devils relied on a dominant ground game and a stingy defense to cap a historic season and avenge last year’s title game loss.
The victory marks a significant milestone for the program, which finished the season with a 13-2 record and a nine-game winning streak. The win was especially sweet after falling to Montgomery Catholic in the 2024 championship game.
“It’s been a hard year,” Moody head coach Jake Ganus said. “It was a tough offseason. Those 6 a.m. workouts aren’t as fun when you lose the way we did last year. Our guys came to work every day. I’m super proud of our staff. I’m just super thankful.”
Dominant Rushing Attack Powers Blue Devils
Faced with a driving rain that began an hour before kickoff, Moody adjusted its offensive strategy, committing to a powerful rushing attack. The plan proved to be the key to victory, as the Blue Devils’ offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage from the start.
Running back Le’Kamren Meadows was the star of the show, earning MVP honors for his performance. Meadows rushed for 186 yards on 25 carries and scored all three of Moody’s touchdowns. His backfield partner, Kevin James, was equally effective, adding 97 yards on 22 carries. Together, they amassed 283 of the team’s 277 total rushing yards.
The Blue Devils’ offensive line earned praise from players and coaches alike. “We wanted to get big and run the ball,” Ganus noted. “Our o-line is real mean and nasty. They’ve been praying for a game like this – cold, rainy, and having to run the ball.”
Moody’s first scoring drive was a statement of intent. The offense marched 60 yards on 12 plays, with Meadows punching it in from 2 yards out. The drive consumed 6:14 of the first-quarter clock. In the second quarter, they engineered an even longer drive, covering 92 yards in 15 plays. Meadows found the end zone again on a 1-yard run, and a subsequent two-point conversion extended the lead to 15-0.
McPherson Makes Super 7 History
One of the most memorable moments of the game came on the final play of the first half. After Vigor was forced to punt from deep in its own territory, Kevin James fair-caught the ball at the Vigor 40-yard line. This set up a rare free-kick opportunity.
Kicker Ryan McPherson stepped up and booted a 50-yard field goal, the first successful free-kick field goal in Super 7 Championship history. The kick gave Moody an 18-0 lead heading into halftime.
“We had practiced it before, so I was prepared for it,” McPherson said. “Coach Ganus just gave me a shot at it.”
Ganus added, “It’s something we work on. We haven’t had a chance to use it. You can only really use it at the end of the first half when the other team is backed up. It worked out perfectly.”
Defense Shuts Down Explosive Vigor Offense
While the offense controlled the clock, the Moody defense delivered a masterful performance, pitching a shutout against a Vigor offense that had been explosive all season. Vigor quarterback Sammy Dunn, a Jackson State signee who had thrown for over 3,000 yards on the year, was held to just 6-of-17 passing for 85 yards and one interception.
Vigor’s best scoring opportunity came in the third quarter after a blocked punt gave them the ball at the Moody 11-yard line. Trailing 18-0, a touchdown could have shifted the momentum. However, the Blue Devils’ defense held firm. On third down, Moody’s Kylan Baker intercepted Dunn’s pass in the end zone to end the threat.
“I feel like that was definitely a big moment in the game,” Vigor coach Renardo Jackson said. “It’s definitely frustrating to not be able to close that drive with points.”
The Blue Devils’ defense held Vigor to just 171 yards of total offense for the game.
Sealing the Historic Victory
With time winding down in the fourth quarter, Meadows provided the final punctuation mark. He broke free for a 42-yard touchdown run with 2:39 remaining, sealing the 25-0 victory and the Moody football state championship.
The win was a culmination of a four-year journey for the team’s 26 seniors, who were in eighth grade when Ganus took over the program.
“Obviously, we wanted to win last year bad but to see that first group come through and finish it was special,” Ganus said. “The records they set… I don’t even know how many there were. Every record there was.”
While the weather was a factor, both coaches acknowledged that execution made the difference. “Hats off to Moody for a job well done,” said Coach Jackson.
