The Oklahoman’s Player of the Week
Moore quarterback Daniel Hishaw Jr. is The Oklahoman’s staff pick for Player of the Week after leading the Lions to a 43-31 upset win over Owasso on Friday.
Daniel Hishaw Jr. had a series of strong suggestions late Friday night that Moore offensive coordinator Rod Richardson could not ignore.
Hishaw, the Lions’ star quarterback, noticed a spot he could hit receiver Dylan Buchheit for a deep touchdown.
After that worked, Hishaw didn’t stop there.
His next suggestion with Owasso mounting a comeback was to run the same sweep play the Lions just executed. Hishaw would instead keep the ball.
He broke free for a 43-yard game-sealing touchdown with 47 seconds remaining to lift Moore to a 43-31 upset and clinch a second straight playoff berth.
It was yet another huge sign of growth against the Class 6A-I defending champion “He’s just an athlete, man,” Buchheit said about Hishaw, his best friend on the team. “You can put him anywhere. “That was crazy.” Hishaw is The Oklahoman’s staff pick for Player of the Week after he accounted for nearly 300 yards of offense and five TDs. He’s now accounted for 29 total TDs and 2,581 total yards this season.
He’s grown as a player and leader while leading Moore to a new level.
The Lions have the playoff spot locked up, but they are eyeing their first winning season since 2004. They play at Mustang on Friday with a chance to improve to 6-4.
“It’s very important right here, not only to get the winning season but to get that last game going into the playoffs,” Hishaw said. “It’s definitely a different feeling. You can see it in the team. We go more; we’re not backing down.”
Moore cannot finish better than third in District 6A-I-2.
With a win and Putnam North victory over Owasso, Moore would finish third in District 6A-I-2.
Should Moore and Owasso both win, a threeway tie is created and it comes down to district points. Moore also finishes fourth with a loss and Owasso win.
“The confidence is real high right now, but it’s always been high,” Hishaw said. Hishaw and Buchheit have been huge in changing the Lions’ culture.
Buchheit is a senior receiver and safety who just earned his first scholarship offer Sunday from Division II Central Oklahoma. He’s having a big year on both sides of the ball with 988 receiving yards and nine TDs to go along with 90 tackles and an interception.
Friday night, he caught eight passes for 156 yards and two TDs.
The biggest came late in the game on the post route Hishaw insisted Richardson call. A year ago, Hishaw might have noticed the opening, but he said he likely would have missed other openings.
He’s a different player, and the Lions are better because of it.
“That felt real good just winning the Owasso game,” Hishaw said. “We knew we had a high chance of winning, but everybody else didn’t think so. We had to prove everybody wrong.”