LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Mills Comets have begun the season about as good as they could've hoped for.
At 6-0 and 3-0 in class 4A-2, the Comets have outscored their opponents 237 to 18. It's been utter dominance this season from both sides of the ball and it's been led by an unlikely star— a freshman quarterback.
Elijah Moody has torched opposing teams' defense all year long - much to the pleasure of head coach Cortez Lee.
"Just about every time I feel like we can rely on him to make those big plays for us that we need in order to win," Lee said. "Whenever you have a person or weapon like that you want to use that weapon as much as possible, especially when the times count."
The Comets have certainly used their "weapon" a lot this season. After winning the starting the job in the offseason, Moody hasn't looked back.
Currently, he has accounted for 968 yards and 9 touchdowns on top of 817 yards rushing and 12 rushing touchdowns.
While Moody makes it look easy when he's on the field, the adjustment as a 14-year-old on a varsity team hasn't been as easy.
"You know, being the youngest is… they all try to pick on me, but I think it just builds us and makes us play better. [It] makes us want to play for each other," Moody said. "It builds a lot of trust too."
His head coach added that the seniors set the tone in his program but once they got to know Moody better, they accepted him fully.
"Since that's happened, I've noticed the guys that really cheer for him throughout the game. In practice, they mess with them a lot. They haze them," said Lee.
Lee pointed out senior offensive lineman Nick Carter as a player who oftentimes jokes around with Moody but who has also been a big brother mentor to him as well.
Carter explained how he has nothing but respect for his quarterback.
"When it comes to toughness and grittiness, he's different from the rest. When you run the ball that much and can throw the ball as much as he does at the same time, it takes a lot of toughness and grit to get back up over and over again," Carter said. "And it's real cool because I get to block for that type of player."
Like many, Moody has been playing football from a young age and has had his dad as his coach throughout most of his life.
"That's big. Having my dad, who raised me, coaching me up," Moody said. "When he says [things] it means a whole bunch more. It wants me to play, put everything on the line just for him, just making him proud."
His dad, Maurice Moody, added how special it's been to watch his son grow up.
"I started with him in the yard when he was a little bitty boy, put a football in his hand. You know, he's just been a special talent," said Maurice Moody, the Comets' offensive line coach. "Makes my heart warm on the inside to just see him go out and compete and be a leader and lead the right way."
Moody, under the leadership of his head coach, the fathership of his dad, and the bonding of his teammates, certainly has the Comets headed in the right direction with just four games left in the season.
Mills will look to stay undefeated when they host Riverview on Friday, October 17, 2024.