A few key special teams plays helped Millikan take a lead at home against Jordan in the Moore League opener on Friday night, and a few big pass plays sealed the deal in the third quarter as the Rams won with a running back 49-0.
“This really helps (our confidence) since we’re coming off 1-3 in the preseason,” Millikan running back Ajae Gravelly said. “We feel good but there’s a lot of stuff we need to work on.”
Gravelly scored the first two touchdowns of the night for Millikan after the Rams took advantage of good field position thanks to good special teams and defense. A pair of blocked punts set up two first half touchdowns that gave Millikan at 21-0 lead at halftime.
The Rams came out roaring in the second half and scored on their first three possessions of the third quarter. Millikan quarterback Qeanu Campbell-Caldwell was 8/11 for 147 yards and three touchdowns.
“We had to be more aggressive than we were in the first half,” Campbell-Caldwell said. “We were being too lackadaisical. In the second half we came out with the intent to be more physical and play harder and faster.”
Campbell-Caldwell had two touchdown passes to junior Ezavier Staples and one each to Nathan Martinez and Aaron Okoro. He also had one rushing touchdown. Gravelly had 83 yards on 13 carries.
The Millikan defense dominated in the trenches and held Jordan to only 12 net rushing yards while collecting six sacks and four interceptions.
Millikan (2-3, 1-0) hosts Poly next week while Jordan (3-1, 0-1) plays Lakewood.
“We’ve got a tough team coming in here next week, and we’re a tough team too,” Campbell-Caldwell said. “It’s going to be a good game next week.”
