The Oklahoman sports team delivers the key players, moments and more from the area's top high school football games in Week 0 .
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Three key takeaways from Moore’s 35-3 win over Westmoore in the season opening Week 0 matchup on Thursday night:
Player of the game: Malikai Miller. The Lions’ senior quarterback powered the Lions to a Moore War victory after throwing for 192 yards and two touchdowns. Miller was also electric on the ground as a runner, rushing for 67 yards to help lead the Lions to a season-opening win. Miller additionally lined up in the secondary for Moore and forced several pass breakups.
Key moment: Shortly after forcing Westmoore’s very first three-and-out of the contest, Lions junior wide receiver Maverick Gardner took the field to return his first punt of the season. That return ended with Gardner maneuvering past Jaguars defenders for a 65-yard touchdown, giving Moore an electrifying early 14-0 lead midway through the first quarter. This play start seemed to give the Lions early momentum, which they sustained throughout the game.
Read option: With the win, the Lions earned just their second win against Westmoore in the past 24 seasons in the long-standing rivalry. The Jaguars' dominant 20-year win streak over Moore ended in 2021, and they previously won the past two matchups with the Lions.
—Jordan Davis, Staff writer
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Here are three takeaways from Class 4A Bethany’s 40-21 win over Class 5A Noble on Thursday at Southern Nazarene University’s football stadium in Bethany.
Player of the game: Wyatt Geissler. The Bethany senior receiver had a terrific game, finishing with nine catches for 130 yards and two scores. He was senior quarterback Jackie Payne’s top target as Payne picked apart Noble’s defense, completing 18 of 22 passes for 212 yards.
Top moment. One play after Bethany recovered a muffed kickoff, Payne hit Geissler for a 27-yard touchdown with 4:42 left in the second quarter. The Bronchos took a 21-7 lead, and it was their third unanswered touchdown in the quarter.
Judson Gilliland has strong performance for Bethany. The junior running back was Bethany’s workhorse throughout the night. He carried the ball 25 times for 120 yards and three touchdowns and also played a role as a pass catcher, finishing with five receptions for 49 yards.
-Nick Sardis, Staff writer
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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Three and out: How Oklahoma high school football's top Week 0 games were won
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