SACO — There’s Carter Moody, stretched out to all of his 6-foot-3, practically horizontal to the Hill Stadium turf. The Thornton Academy junior is in the process of making the play of the game. Moody blocks Justin Bouchard’s try for a 33-yard field goal in the final minute of the first half, preserving his team’s one-point lead.
It’s the second time in the first half of this pivotal game against Portland that Moody makes the play of the game for the Golden Trojans. Late in the first quarter, with the Bulldogs threatening to turn a one-touchdown lead into a two-touchdown lead, Moody is there to fall on the ball inside his 5-yard line as Josiah Blain knocks the ball from Portland’s Alex Martin with a strong tackle.
This game between the teams that played in the last three Class A state championship games (won by Thornton in 2023, by Portland in 2024, and by the Trojans again last November) was a battle of two undefeated teams trying to reach another state final. For a half, it was as close as you’d expect it to be. Eventually, Thornton wore down the Bulldogs. A one-point game at the half became a 43-13 blowout.
Moody was a big reason why his team clung to a one-point halftime lead. An all-SMAA defensive back last season as a sophomore, Moody is enjoying a bigger role this season.
“His role has increased. He’s on offense, defense, special teams. He made some great plays. He’s a great tackler,” Thornton coach Kevin Kezal said of Moody.
Portland scored quickly and with little resistance on the game’s first drive, with Martin leading the strong ground game. The Bulldogs were on the verge of putting the Trojans in a two-touchdown hole, a place with which they are unfamiliar, when Blain’s hit dislodged the ball in the final minute of the first quarter, inside Thornton’s 5-yard line.
Moody was there to pounce on the ball, evaporating the threat. He didn’t know who caused the fumble, only that it happened, and he needed to get the ball.
“It was right there in front of me and I just fell on it,” Moody said. “We battle. We stay strong. No matter where we are on the field.”
With Thornton up 14-13, the Bulldogs drove, and looked poised to take the lead just before the first half ended. Bouchard has the leg for the 33-yard field goal try. Before the play, Moody and teammate Brennan Tabor had a quick chat.
“(Tabor) was lined up next to me, and said ‘You go as tight as you can, and I’m going to try and take (the blockers) on so you’ve got a free shot,’” Moody said.
Then Moody described what happened in short, simple sentences, as if he was outlining a series of snapshots taken after the snap.
“It worked. I got around them. No one touched me. (I) put two hands up. Laid out. Blocked it. It felt amazing,” He said. “They were driving on us, but getting that stop right before halftime really helped us in the locker room.”
The Trojans spend a lot of time on special teams, both Moody and Kezal said. It’s something the team takes seriously and to heart. It was Moody’s first blocked kick, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. He held momentum in his outstretched body.
“Obviously, Carter is one of our best players, and he made a great play. It’s nice when the ball is on the hash because you have a better chance (to block it) with the angle,” Kezal said. “He took a good angle, and it was a huge play to get us into halftime with a lead.”
With two teams who have a recent history of playing big games against each other, don’t be surprised if Thornton and Portland meet again at Fitzpatrick Stadium on the Saturday before Thanksgiving.
“We knew somebody was going home with a loss,” Moody said.
With two big defensive plays in the first half, Moody helped ensure that wouldn’t be his team.