Lakewood running back Jason Leggett runs for a touchdownin the first hald of Friday's game against Millikan. Leggett led the Lancers to a28-17 Moore League win over the Rams. Lakewood's victory clinched second place and a playoff spot. Millikan finishes third and is also playoff bound.

By Joe Stevens

Jason Leggett sat on his teammates' shoulders and held the Hamilton Trophy high above his head. The Lakewood High running back then came down to earth and had a few conversations with his friends-the ones from Millikan High.

Leggett rushed for 223 yards and three touchdowns to lead visiting Lakewood over Millikan, 28-17, in the Moore League finale for both teams. Leggett was the obvious star with touchdowns of 52, 5 and 79 yards, and what made the rival victory even more special was that he used to play at Millikan.

Leggett transferred to Lakewood when he was a junior. "I'd say it's the biggest win of the year and the biggest win of my career," Leggett said. "It was very emotional, coming back and facing my old school. But we did it, and I have to give all the credit to our offensive line." Lakewood (8-2, 4-1) finished in second place in the Moore League, followed by Millikan (6-4, 3-2). Both are playoff bound, and it looks as if Lakewood is in position for a home playoff game. Amazing considering the Lancers went 1-8 last season.

Lakewood led 21-17 at halftime and then blanked Millikan in the second half. At first, it looked as if Lakewood was on its way to an easy win. Leggett scored the first two touchdowns to give Lakewood a 14-0 lead, but Millikan was far from out. The Rams came back with a 72-yard TD run by quarterback Reggie Foster and a 29-yard field goal by Froylan Sanchez. Millikan was down 14-10, but Leggett had a 79-yard run with 2:56 left in the first half to give Lakewood a 21-10 lead. Then, Millikan engineered a 13-play, 80-yard drive, capped with a 1-yard TD pass from Foster to David Brown with 5 seconds left.

In the second half, there was just one score. It came on Lakewood's first posession and on a 1-yard TD run by sophomore quarterback Justin Wheeler. Wheeler capped a mammoth drive that had 12 plays and lasted until 5:48 remained in the third quarter. No play was as key as a fourth and 7 at the Millikan 33. Wheeler completed a pass to senior wide receiver Vito Trautz for a 12-yard gain and a first down. "That's just one more of our senior kids making a key play," Lakewood coach Mike Christensen said. "I give all the credit to our kids and assistant coaches. After going 1-8 last year, they hung in there and didn't give up. They stay committed."

Foster led the Rams with 88 yards on 12 carries and is a transfer student, like Leggett. He played his freshman year with Lakewood.