MOODY — For the first time since the 1990s, Hayden is off to a 3-1 start to their football season.

The Wildcats came away with a 41-13 win over Moody on Friday, in a game that wasn’t as close as the score might indicate.

After forcing a Hayden punt to start the game, the Blue Devils had a little early success, moving into Wildcat territory at the 32. But Garrett Torbert knocked down a would-be Blue Devil pass to thwart the drive.

After swapping possessions, Hayden was backed up deep in their own territory, but then used a new-found passing game to drive 89 yards for a score, capped by a Leonard Johnson 4-yard run — the first of two touchdowns for him in the game. Patrick Ward added the point after to put Hayden up 7-0 with 7:51 remaining in the first half.

The Wildcats put another score on the board later in the quarter when quarterback Tim Curry hit Josh Duncan for a 61-yard touchdown throw. Curry also ran the 2-point conversion in, and Hayden had a 15-0 lead with 3:05 left in the first half.

Colton Shirley scored on the visitors’ first possession of the second half on a 5-yard run.

The Cats’ Garret Torbert came up with another big play on defense, when he intercepted a Moody screen pass and ran it back to the 6. The next play saw Blake Adams score, and Hayden had broken the game open. Wards’ point after gave Hayden a commanding 28-0 lead with 7:49 remaining in the third.

Moody finally got on the scoreboard on a fourth-and-goal from the 8-yard line when Max Archer caught a Christian Weems pass and just made it in the corner of the end zone with 4:37 remaining in the third period.J

Johnson took advantage of a Devils turnover and scored from 25 yards out midway of the final period.

Both teams played subs liberally in the final few minutes, and both added points. Hayden’s final touchdown came on a 14-yard run by Austin Turner.

Blake Adams led all Wildcat rushers with 70 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown, plus a catch for five yards. Leonard Johnson had 58 yards on five carries and two touchdowns, and Johnson had three catches for 39 yards. Josh Duncan had three receptions for 83 yards and a score. Colton Shirley had nine rushes for 44 yards and a touchdown, as well as two catches for 24 yards.

The Wildcats defense played solidly again, with Shirley leading the way with seven tackles (one for loss), a pass breakup and a forced fumble. Tim Curry had five tackles and a breakup, and Cody Colvin added five tackles (two for loss).

The win improves the Cats to 3-1 overall and 2-1 in the region, while the loss drops Moody to 2-2 and 1-2.

Friday Hayden hosts Lawrence County in a non-region game for homecoming.