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College Insider: HHS grad Moon plays role in Urbana turnaround

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9:38 AM Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Boise Moon is a former defensive back, current wide receiver and holder of Urbana University’s single-game rushing record.

Not your typical combination on the gridiron, but Moon said it’s fine with him.

“Whatever it takes for us to be winners and to change this program around, we’re going to do it,” said Moon, a Hamilton High School graduate. “We’re already working toward next year.”

The Blue Knights completed a major turnaround last Saturday, Nov. 14, at Central State, steamrolling their way to a 40-8 victory. They finished 6-5 after managing just one win a year ago.

Moon was the man against CSU. Moved from receiver to tailback to replace an ailing Nigel Smith (ankle) in the starting lineup, he sprinted straight into the Urbana record book with 268 yards on 20 carries.

He scored twice in the contest. One touchdown came on a 94-yard run.

“It wasn’t too much of a shock to me,” said Moon, a 5-foot-10, 195-pound junior. “We had a great week of practice, and we had a great game that day. I just wanted to share it with the team. It wasn’t just me individually. It was a big team effort.”

Moon was told Thursday that he would be starting in the backfield. At Urbana, that’s “Perfect Thursday,” meaning practice starts over if things aren’t done perfectly.

“We didn’t have to start anything over,” Moon said. “The coaches were pretty happy.”

He ended the season as the Blue Knights’ No. 2 rusher with 319 yards on 33 carries, a 9.7 average. Moon caught 11 passes for 139 yards and a score, also returning seven kickoffs for a 26.9 average.

He spent his first two seasons at Urbana as a defensive back, then started most of this year at wideout.

And what about his future position? If Moon had his choice, he said he’d switch to running back, and last weekend’s school-record performance strongly supports such a move.

“I’ll leave that up to the head coach (David Taynor) — he’ll put guys where they need to be,” Moon said. “We’ve got a really good coaching staff here. They make sure we’re athletic students.”

Moon is majoring in business management and plans to pursue a master’s degree at the University of Cincinnati.

Contact this reporter at  (513) 820-2194 or rcassano@coxohio.com.

college insider

rick cassano

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