The playoff picture remains up in the air for a handful of Moore League football teams, and Thursday night’s matchup between Wilson and Lakewood will go a long way in deciding which teams will earn a coveted postseason spot.
Lakewood (2-5, 2-1) is hosting this one at their temporary home field, Veterans Memorial Stadium, for a 7 p.m. kickoff. The Lancers are on a two-game skid with losses at Millikan (49-7) and against San Pedro (48-20) last Friday. Four turnovers plagued the Lancers in that game, so protecting the ball should be a top priority for Justin Utupo’s offense in this one.
The Lancers have lost six straight meetings with Wilson, including a 28-7 loss during the spring season earlier this year. The last Lakewood win over the Bruins was a 33-13 victory back in 2014.
Wilson (1-6, 1-3) is squarely in “must win” territory if they’re hoping to play postseason football this season. The Bruins will need to take care of business tonight against Lakewood and then knock off Millikan next week in order to reach the crucial three-win plateau in league play. A Wilson win over Lakewood would also be a huge boost for Compton and Jordan’s playoff hopes.
The Bruins suffered a heartbreaking 21-20 loss against Jordan last week, and perhaps that foretells a competitive game with Lakewood tonight. The Lancers survived their trip to J-Town with a 23-19 win thanks to a last-minute touchdown, meaning all three of these teams appear to be fairly even on paper.
Bruins running back Johnell Gray had 120 rushing yards and a score on 25 carries against Jordan last week, and he remains one of Wilson’s top playmakers on offense. Current Wilson head coach Scott Meyer spent the last two seasons coaching at Lakewood, and tonight will be the first time he's coached against his former team.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. tonight at Vets, and be sure to stick with The562 for live score updates from the sidelines as well as full coverage after the game.
