Jonathan Moore could not have felt any worse.

The Lutheran North quarterback struggled mightily in an 18-point loss to Phenix City, Alabama, in last season's season-opening game.

"It was like I let myself and my teammates down," Moore said. "I was questioning myself."

The 6-foot, 205-pounder certainly provided an answer to that question.

Moore, only a sophomore at the time, bounced back to guide his team on a 13-game winning streak that culminated in a 46-7 win over Festus in the Class 4 football state championship game in Columbia.

The Crusaders, thanks in part to Moore's about-face, captured the seventh crown in school history and their first since 2019.

Now, Moore is ready to do it again as the north county school located in the shadow of I-70 prepares to defend its crown.

"When

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