Justin Fedich | Selma Times-Journal

Darrell Moorer has scored three touchdowns in the past two weeks for Dallas County. He said he wouldn’t have been so successful without the help of the man he called his best friend.

Moorer’s granddad, Eddie Cobb Sr., died Aug. 24 at 74 years old. Cobb’s funeral was on the day of the Dallas County football game Aug. 29 against Selma, and Moorer had a decision to make. Moorer decided to play in the game because he said it’s what Cobb would have wanted.

With a heavy heart, Moorer proceeded to score the Hornets’ only touchdown against Selma.

Dallas County only scored six points against Selma, but Moorer — playing through the loss of his granddad just five days prior — scored a touchdown on fourth-and-goal when the Hornets needed a touchdown to stay in the game.

The game was originally supposed to be played on Friday, but a lightning delay pushed most of the game over to Saturday. Moorer said the decision to play football while still grieving the loss of his granddad wasn’t too difficult of a decision at all.

“My granddad, we always talked about football and sports, and my family, we felt like it was best for me showing up for the team,” Moorer said.

Moorer has fond memories of watching Alabama football games with Cobb, who loved the Crimson Tide. Moorer said his relationship with his granddad was stronger than most.

Cobb was the man who was always right beside him whenever he needed anything.

The week leading up to Dallas County’s game against Jemison, Hornets’ head coach Marty Smith noticed that through Moorer’s loss, he had become emotionally and mentally stronger in the process.

“I was very excited to see the maturity and how he grew as a player just in this week through the circumstances he was under,” Smith said.

Moorer wasn’t a huge on-field presence during the first half of the Hornets’ game against Jemison. That would quickly change.

With 2:52 remaining in the third quarter, Moorer took off on a 56-yard rush and found the end zone to give Dallas County an insurmountable 28-0 lead.

With just over seven minutes left in the game, Moorer ran for 25 yards and dove into the end zone, breaking a final tackle just enough to reach the ball over the goal line before his knees touched the ground.

When Moorer broke away for the touchdowns, there weren’t many defenders around him. But despite being out in the open sprinting down the football field, Moorer wasn’t alone.

“For me to score touchdowns, I think he was watching me,” Moorer said. “I felt like he was there with me in my heart and spirit.”

Moorer wasn’t the only one who noticed a positive change in his 100-yard rushing, two-touchdown performance Friday.

“You could just tell that there was a pep in his step,” Smith said.

Smith was coaching and motivating Moorer during the game. Moorer’s family was there to support him the whole week leading up to the game. Moorer’s teammates were there to block for him, allowing him to find openings.

But perhaps the person who helped Moorer the most the past two games was the man who wasn’t even physically there.

“I wouldn’t have done it without him,” Moorer said.