Vigor’s Miguel Wilson (2) blocks a punt by Moody’s Ryan McPherson during Thursday night’s Class 5A state championship game at Birmingham’s Protective Stadium. The Wolves got the ball at the Blue Devils’ 11 but failed to score and went on to lose 25-0. (Helen Joyce/Call News)
By ARTHUR L. MACK
BIRMINGHAM — Coming off an emotional 28-21 win over top-ranked Williamson in the Class 5A semifinals, No. 2-ranked Vigor seemed to have momentum heading into Thursday night’s Super 7 final against No. 3 Moody.
But in a steady rain at Protective Stadium, the Blue Devils got up a head of steam behind the running of Le’Kamren Meadows and Kevin James and dashed the Wolves’ dream of winning a Blue Map with a 25-0 victory.
Meadows had 186 yards on 25 carries and scored all three of Moody’s touchdowns on runs 2 and 41 yards and 1 yard while James had 97 yards on 22 carries as the Blue Devils (13-2) rolled up 277 yards rushing and dominated time of possession at 30:44.
Ryan McPherson stunned Vigor (12-3) with a 50-yard free kick at the end of the first half for an 18-0 lead.
“We normally try to be balanced but because of the rain, we concentrated on running the football,” Moody coach Jake Ganus said.
Wolves quarterback Sammy Dunn was just 6-of-17 passing for 85 yards and rushed seven times for 26 yards. Demetrius Johnson added 54 yards on 12 carries as Vigor was outgained 282 yards to 171.
“It’s been a long ride,” Dunn said. “I wish we could’ve brought it home. I’m just proud of our guys and how far we came from the summer and how we kept fighting through the losses and kept going.”
Wolves first-year coach Renardo Jackson noted the Blue Devils also lost in the Class 5A finals last year, then returned to win it all this season.
“This loss might be a motivation for us,” Jackson said.
Moody scored on its first two possessions to lead 15-0, converting 5 of 6 third downs along the way.
Vigor drove to a fourth-and-1 at the Blue Devils’ 31 but Johnson was stopped short and McPherson nailed a 50-yard free kick after James made a fair catch of a Wolves punt to make it 18-0 at halftime.
Vigor had a chance to get back into the game midway through the third quarter when Miguel Wilson blocked McPherson’s punt at the Blue Devils’ 11 but Dunn was intercepted by Kylan Baker to end the threat.
“I felt that was big,” Jackson said. “If we had been able to capitalize on it, it could’ve been 18-7. We had a chance to score a couple of touchdowns. It was definitely frustrating not to be able to score.”
Moody salted the game away with 2:39 left when Meadows scored on a 41-yard run.
