When: 7 p.m. Friday, Sep. 6
Where: Jaguar Stadium, Moore, Okla.
Five Keys to Southwest Showdown
Welcome to Jaguar Stadium
For the first time, Moore Schools Stadium will not host all three of Moore’s public schools. Both Westmoore and Southmoore built their own venues this offseason as Friday will be the first Southwest Showdown in the rivalry’s 16-year history hosted away from Moore High School. Westmoore is offering an $80 season ticket option that will include a reserved seat for every home game and a VIP parking pass.
Warmed Up
The Jaguars enter Southwest Showdown 0-1 after a 35-3 Week 0 loss to Moore for only the second time in 24 years. For Westmoore, finishing last in the city is just not an option, and with their first-game jitters out of the way, the Jaguars won’t be any more dangerous than Friday night.
Returning Cast
Southmoore enters the season with six returning starters on both sides of the ball — not a bad place to start for a team looking to stake its claim in 6A-2. Players like Nakwaine Carter (6-3, 260, Jr.) who burst onto the local scene last year and received several Division I offers over the offseason, will be crucial for the SaberCats this season, and especially on Friday night.
Taven Hayes’ Debut
Following the exodus of up-and-coming field general Cruz Cambpell to Tuttle, the SaberCats will turn to the era of Taven Hayes (6-1, 180, So.), who will take the reins of head coach Jake Monden’s RPO offense starting this week. “Taven is a mobile threat that can make every throw on the field,” Monden said. “He has learned the offense this spring and will add a different dimension to the SaberCats this fall. We expect a prolific year while having him at the helm.”
Keep the Streak
The Jaguars are 12-5 all-time against Southmoore since its opening in 2008 and have won nine straight against the SaberCats. The Westmoore hill has proved not only insurmountable for the SaberCats but dominating. In those nine losses, the Cats have only come within one score of the Jags twice (34-28 in 2016 and 34-27 in 2020). Southmoore last defeated Westmoore 48-21 on Week 9 of 2015 as Casey Thompson led the SaberCats to a 9-2 record that year.
