Oak Park and River Forest High School linebacker Jahmari Moore has a team-high 55.5 tackles plus 5.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss, three pass breakups, three forced fumbles and a touchdown, two interceptions and fumble recovery this season. He’s a Division I recruit who earned recognition as the West Suburban Conference Silver Division’s Co-MVP Defensive Player of the Year with Glenbard West’s Nico Gagliano, as well as All-Conference and All-Academic honors.
What’s been most impressive about the 6-foot-3, 210-pound senior is how he’s selflessly led a dominant defense that’s allowing 12.5 points per game and 2.6 yards per rushing attempt.
Moore has graciously agreed to check in with The Huddle on a regular basis to talk Huskie football via a series of journal entries the rest of the season.
Jahmari Moore, OPRF senior linebacker (as told to Marty Farmer)
Journal entry: November 6
Hey Huskie fans
Well we got that first playoff win (26-17 over Fremd) under our belt. It feels great that we get another week together as a team, and we’re very excited to play Palatine in the next round of the 8A playoffs at home.
I think we matched up pretty well against Fremd. We had a solid game plan but just had a couple of mental mistakes that we have to limit moving forward. In the playoffs, especially 8A, because everybody is good the outcome of a game really is determined by which team makes fewer mistakes and executes better.
Even though we made a few mistakes in the last game, I think it was important and a good sign that we weren’t pointing fingers at each other. We don’t want any teammate feeling too low. Mistakes happen and we all make them at times. Nobody’s perfect.
For example, we had a muffed punt against Fremd which I know a lot of people were talking about. Cole (Fields) is our punt returner. He made a mistake but he’s still a great player, one of our best receivers and a big part of our team. I have a lot of confidence in Cole and all my teammates.
We look at each and every day together as a true blessing. We kind of sit back and just enjoy being together every day.
Last year, we got knocked out of the playoffs in the first round so being able to practice together now, especially this week in such beautiful weather, and knowing that we’re hosting another playoff game this Saturday in front of our great fans is an awesome feeling. How do you top it really?
Opportunities like the one we are experiencing now are limited so why not enjoy it.
Saturday’s game against Palatine will be our second afternoon game this season. Earlier this year, we beat Proviso West and a pitched a shutout against them at their place on a Saturday.
Honestly, it really doesn’t really matter whether we play on Friday or Saturday, night or day. We try to take advantage of the extra day of preparation for Saturday games but schemes don’t change. We’re going to play our game regardless of what day it is or who we play. All season long we’ve talked about facing nameless opponents and keeping the focus on us playing to the very best of our ability. As long as we do that, I think everybody on our team can live with the result of a game, win or lose.
We’re very focused on what we need to do on Saturday. Obviously, we’ve scouted Palatine and we have been studying what they do and any wrinkles they might have in their game plan.
The great thing about our defense is we can adjust to almost any game plan our opponents put out there. I think we’re all focused on doing our job, each player doing his 1/11th within our defensive scheme. As long as we do that and just play good fundamental football, we should be fine.
Even though football is a big part of my life right now, I always try to keep things balanced and in perspective. I think about other aspects of my life as well and try not to focus too much on football. I’m involved with a lot of activities within the school and around the community so my attention is divided in a good way. Sometimes things get pretty hectic but I’m able to manage everything in an efficient and effective way.
When I’m in practice or a game, the focus is exclusively on football. In the classroom, I’m doing my best academically. I also enjoy spending time with my family and friends. A balanced life works best for me; otherwise, I would get too stressed about a particular part of my life.
On behalf of my teammates, I want to thank all of you again for the wonderful support all season. We’re pumped up to play well on Saturday and we need everybody including you guys, our fans, to get the job done. See you Saturday!
Editor’s note: OPRF (9-1) hosts Palatine (8-2) on Saturday at Oak Park and River Forest High School Stadium. Kickoff is 1 p.m.
Jahmari is a middle linebacker and wears No. 47. He can be easily identified on the field as a player repeatedly tackling quarterbacks and running backs. You’ll also hear public address announcer Michael LeFevre likely saying throughout the game, “tackle by Jahmari Moore.”