Special to lbpost.com, Moore League high-school football guru J.J. Fiddler educates us on the ins and outs of the season so far.

There are five weeks of Moore League play left, and five of seven teams still have playoff aspirations.  If you need a refresher, or if you’ve slept through the first half of the season, we’ve got you covered…

Compton Tarbabes (6-0, 2-0 in Moore League)
Last week: Beat Wilson, 45-20
This week: Bye week
Unbeaten & Untested: Even though its opponents have a combined record of 4-28, Compton has still outscored them 312-55.
On Offense: The Tarbabes run the ball out of the wing-t set, and after six games it’s apparent that they can do so consistently.  Coming from the left side is the featured back, Donald Green, who has 1200 yards and 15 touchdowns on 86 carries.  Coming from the right is the power runner, Curry Williams, who has 860 yards and 11 touchdowns on just 55 carries.
On Defense: Compton has only allowed 55 points and held four teams under 10, but it hasn’t been tested as of yet.  Of course, it’s a lot easier to play with the lead, and the only time Compton has trailed was against Verbum Dei, when they blew a coverage on the opening drive.  Compton went onto win, 71-7.
Compton Will Win The Moore League If It Can… keep doing what it’s doing.  The Tarbabes have yet to show their weakness.  If they do, it’s going to happen after this week’s bye when they return to play at Jordan the following week, then at Millikan, home against Poly, and finally at Lakewood.

Millikan Rams (5-0, 2-0)
Last week: Beat Jordan, 27-14
Next week: vs. Poly
Hold On Loosely: The Rams are undefeated, but they’ve given up second half leads because of defensive mistakes and offensive inconsistency.
On Offense: Millikan can put up points with the best of them.  Junior quarterback Jake Holtz is completing 60 percent of his passes, but has seven interceptions and just six touchdowns.  In the backfield, Millikan has used the three J’s—senior Josh Skillern and juniors Jeremy Brooks and Jonathan Sandars—who split time and have racked up 730 yards on just 127 carries, for a 5.7-yd average.
On Defense: In week one, the defense gave up a 13-point lead in the fourth quarter.  Three weeks ago, the Rams led 41-14 at halftime before giving up 21 unanswered points.  Both times, the opponent has thrown their way back into the game.  Millikan righted the ship last week, getting three turnovers and scoring two defensive touchdowns.
Millikan Will Win The Moore League If It Can… put it all into one game.  In separate games they’ve shown the ability to run with effectiveness, pass when they have to, and stop who they need to.  All that together in one contest can beat any one in the Moore League.

Poly Jackrabbits (4-1, 1-0)
Last week: Bye
Next week: @ Millikan
Still L.B.P.: A lot of people expected the classic unbeatable Poly, but this year’s young squad has yet to play that perfect game, and already has a hiccup against the defending LA City Champions, Birmingham.  
On Offense: At times, the offensive line has had trouble protecting quarterback Morgan Fennell, but they haven’t had any trouble creating running lanes for a handful of talented running backs.  To make matters worse, Fennell is fighting a back injury that might keep him out of a few league games.     
On Defense: The defensive line has dominated in the wins.  The unit, which is the strongest on a young defense, has tallied 18.5 sacks and absolutely shut down four opponents’ running attacks.  And they have done it without having to blitz, which will allow the coaching staff to call more zone coverages against pass first teams.
Poly Will Win The Moore League If It Can… keep its own defense on the sideline.  In that one loss, the offense was rendered ineffective forcing the defense to spend most of the night on the field.  When they’re rested, Poly’s defense is tops in the Moore League.

Jordan Panthers (3-2, 0-1)
Last week: Lost to Millikan, 27-14
Next week: @ Lakewood
This Is Next Year: The Panthers are playing well defensively, especially late in games, and have their most talented team since coach Scott Meyer took over four years ago.
On Offense: Jordan relies heavily on its running back Tylik Carter.  The senior leader has already carried the ball 123 times for 723 yards and six touchdowns.  Carter doesn’t need much room to be effective, but he’s gotten it up front from lineman Adam Granados and Moimoi Manukailea.  Quarterback TyAries Francis has shown the ability to throw accurately on the run, and will have to do so effectively when the Panthers use play-action passes.
On Defense: Jordan has shown the ability to stop, or at least slow down, its opponent’s running game.  That’s very important since the Panthers run a 3-4 defense, where only three down linemen are counted on to plug holes.  If it can continue to contain the opponent’s ground attack, expect Jordan to blitz a lot more in league play.
Jordan Will Win The Moore League If It Can… run the ball.  When they run well they can posses the ball, control the game, take the pressure of the defense, and continue winning.

Lakewood Lancers (3-3, 1-1)
Last week: Beat Cabrillo, 48-14
Next week: vs. Jordan
Tug O’ War: After losing their first two games in ugly fashion, the Lancers outscored their next two opponents, 88-11, before entering league play.
On Offense: The Lancers lost their starting quarterback Tofi Tiedmann to injury, so sophomore Jessie Scroggins has stepped in.  Lakewood can run up the middle with senior Cedric Moore and around the outside with junior Alex Fletcher.  That has opened up some passing lanes for Scroggins, who’s found his favorite target in senior slot receiver Brian Diaz.  
On Defense: Lakewood wants to keep everything in front of them, which is just part of its “assignment” philosophy.  It’s made a lot easier since they have the most seasoned secondary in the Moore League.  Cedric Moore also plays some cornerback (he’s being recruited nationally) and on the other side is junior Aaron Avilas, who got quality playing time as a sophomore.  
Lakewood Will Win The Moore League If It Can… get the offense where the defense is.  The Lancers seem like they’re one offensive playmaker away from being extremely difficult to handle.
 
Wilson Bruins (1-5, 0-2)
Last week: Lost to Compton, 45-20
Next week: @ Cabrillo
Should Have Gone For Two: The Bruins have a lot of raw talent, and they were a two-point conversion away from being 2-2 against quality opponents before falling to Millikan and Compton, two of the Moore League’s best.
On Offense: The air attack is not the problem.  Quarterback Zack Kazarian throws to arguably the two most talented receivers in the Moore League, Michael Willie and Jemari Roberts.  The problem is the running attack, which has shown up for two games, and been marked truant for the others.  If the Bruins are going to surprise some people, they need to get running back Randall Hook more involved.
On Defense: It’s been an identity issue for the Bruins.  Led by middle linebacker C.J. Harris— who ranks among the League’s best with 58 tackles— the defense has faced six high-powered offenses.  This has forced them to shift their strategy each week.  If the defensive line can play better and free-up backers like Harris to make the plays, the whole unit should improve.
Wilson Will Win The Moore League If It Can… find the right balance between run and pass.  They have the talent, but it’s been one or the other, giving opposing defenses the upper hand every time.

Cabrillo Jaguars (1-5, 0-2)
Last week: Lost to Lakewood, 48-14
Next week: vs. Wilson
Looking Up: The Jags are struggling record wise, but they’ve hung tough with two of their opponents, and that’s saying something for a team that went winless last season.
On Offense: It’s been an uphill battle for the Cabrillo offense, and it’s not going to get easier as league play commences.  The Jags are committed to running the ball, but sophomore Tyrone Swinton hasn’t had much room to run.  The offensive line has been out-weighed and out-classed in four losses, and that hasn’t helped the passing game, either.
On Defense: The defense has held their own in two games.  They held Beverly Hills to two points in their only win, and held Mayfair to 14 points in week two.  Senior defensive back Marcus Turner (son of head coach Marcus Turner) is the unit’s best player, and is headed to Stanford at year’s end.
Cabrillo Will Win The Moore League If It Can… build on a quality league win.  One will grow some confidence, and after the Jags get used to winning they can start expecting it.  Until then, they need to lean more on their defense.