Stevie Moody didn't always dream of starring on the gridiron. In fact, he only put on the pads after a coach dared him to try it.
That challenge turned out to be life-changing. Moody blossomed into an All-State performer, a JUCO All-Star selection and was a cornerstone of the 1974-75 Pearl River football teams.
Moody joins a prestigious 2025 class that includes football and basketball star Larry Brackins, women's basketball coach Polly Kirkland Lavert and men's soccer standout Stephen Kulikowski. Also being honored is Eric "Poncho" James — PRCC's first-ever mascot — who will receive the Spirit of a Wildcat award.
"It was surprising when I got the call. I'm almost 70, so this was unexpected," Moody said. "It's hard to put into words, but it really means a lot. I was doing something that I enjoyed and never thought about accolades.
"I just went out and gave 100 percent every time I was out there. I wanted to win. I never thought we might lose no matter who they had or their record. Pearl River jumpstarted me to man hood. It taught me so much."
BEFORE THE RIVER
Though Moody had a storied football career at Pearl River, it nearly didn't happen. Moody was a standout on the baseball diamond and featured in the band at Petal High School. He had no plans of playing football until a challenge was issued to him by a defensive coach, prompting him to hit the gridiron for the first time. The decision paid off as he compiled several offers from Junior Colleges and programs in the SWAC.
"I was bigger than most of the guys they had at the time, so I took him up on the challenge and played football my senior year," Moody said. "It worked out pretty well. I ended up getting several offers. I decided I wanted to stay close to home, so I opted for Junior College."
BECOMING A WILDCAT
Things didn't go smoothly in Moody's first year in Poplarville. A coaching change happened just before the 1974 season began, rocking team chemistry. The program lacked unity and finished the year with a 4-4 record.
"My freshman year was challenging. I got playing time but wasn't always a starter," Moody said. "We hadn't been integrated for long, and it really wasn't a team. There were a lot of individuals."
That changed in 1975 as PRCC brought in Hall of Fame coach JC Arban to lead the charge. Arban immediately started to bring the team together.
"We sat down with coach Arban, and he asked us questions," Moody said. "He helped pull us together as a team. It wasn't about your race or where you were from. We all knew we had different backgrounds, but we were trying to build a competitive team.
"Once we hit two-a-days, we pulled together. We wanted the best athletes to play. It wasn't about your folks — it was, could you play."
One team-building method that Moody remembers best — is an in-dorm boxing ring.
"If you had a problem with someone in practice, we were going to settle it," Moody laughed. "We'd break out the gloves, line the walls with our mattresses and get after it. We kept the issues in-house, and that's what made us close."
A CAPTAIN AND A FORCE
When the 1975 season started, Moody had earned a full-time starting role and was named one of three team captains alongside PRCC Hall of Famers Ed Porter and Tony Walker. With the Petal native wreaking havoc along the defensive line, the Wildcats went 7-2, finishing one win shy of the South Division title.
"Coach Arban really put a good group together," Moody said. "We did pretty well that year."
A moment from the season still stands out to Moody — a matchup against rival Gulf Coast.
"We were fighting for South Division that year," he said. "They had to bring extra bleachers for the fans because there wasn't enough room. That was the most people I'd ever played in front of."
Although the Wildcats dropped a close one, Moody has a lasting memory from the game.
"They had a running back that I ended up being roommates with later, Floyd Fortenberry," he said. "He broke loose right before halftime, and I ran him down and caught him. He didn't like that too much."
Moody capped his sophomore campaign with All-State honors and was invited to the JUCO All-Star game in Tupelo. Moody recalls the South team winning the game comfortably, allowing him and fellow PRCC Hall of Famer Ricky Cuevas to have some fun late in the game.
"In the fourth quarter, Ricky and I switched positions," Moody said. "I played nose guard for about three plays and told him he could have it back. I was used to worrying about one guy — at nose guard, they were coming from everywhere."
LIFE AFTER THE RIVER
Moody continued his playing career at Delta State, staying close to home. The transition didn't go smoothly at first.
"I left and came back to Petal," he said. "I decided to go to a high school game at Pearl River, and coach Arban saw me. He sent back to Delta State."
In Cleveland, Moody worked through wind sprints, bleacher runs and time in the bull ring to earn his scholarship back. He went on to star for DSU, earning All-Conference honors, Defensive Player of the Year and All-American Honorable Mention. He even left with the school's deadlift record.
He graduated with a degree in criminal justice but opted to go into the oil field. He later moved back home and started a 40-year career at Georgia Pacific. He and his wife Georgia are soon to celebrate a 47th wedding anniversary. They have three children: Fabian, Stevie Jr. and Jeremy.