The infamous tale of Willie Moore and the “Touchdown Twins”

Vicksburg native Willie Moore was a dominating force in Vicksburg football in his prime and remains a legend among local sport fans.

Born and raised in Vicksburg, Moore was Buccaneer on the all-black Rosa A. Temple High School football team where he played both running back and wide receiver.

The Buccaneers went undefeated with a 11-0 record in 1966, Moore’s sophomore year, when they dominated the division and reigned as Big 8 Champions. Known for his speed and agility, Moore finished with three touchdowns that season in spite of the injuries to both ankles that forced him to sit out multiple games.

Moore’s 1967 junior season would be his first year as an official starter under new head coach Houston Markham.

The Buccaneers would experience a bit of a rocky start and growing pains, losing the first two games of Moore’s sophomore season. The setback only pushed the team to fight harder, though, and what came next is forever etched in Vicksburg football history.

Willie Moore won two championships during his high school career playing for the Buccaneers (with permission).

Moore found the magic that would propel the Buccaneers back to the top when he began sharing handoffs with teammate sophomore running back Bobby Huell.  From that moment, the team never lost another game that season. and finishing 8-2.

Moore scored five touchdowns that year and the Bucs finished 8-2, a strong comeback. Moore and his teammates were set on dominating the division once again.

Moore and Huell along with quarterback Robert Sims, would train and run routes after their summer job to prepare for the upcoming season, which would prove to be Moore’s best year.

In the fall of 1968, the Buccaneers began season on a rampage, defeating their first four opponents with ease.

The Bucs would now face the Lanier High School, who were also undefeated and one of the top picks to win the championship. Moore scored three touchdowns in that game while running behind aggressive blocking offensive lineman Alonzo Stevens and they defeated the Bulldogs 54-20.

Throughout the 1968 season, Moore and the Buccaneers continued to destroy their opponents. He and Bobby Huell quickly earned the nickname “Touchdown Twins” due to their great ability to get into the end zone. By then end of the season Moore and Huell’s touchdowns combined were more than St. Aloysius, Warren Central, and Cooper High School’s team touchdowns as a whole.

“With the great blocking of Alonzo Stevens, me and Bobby were able keep scoring touchdowns easily and Robert threw the ball perfectly to me every time,” Moore said.

With the expert passing of Sims and big blocking of Stevens, Moore was able to complete his senior year with 17 touchdowns while leading the Buccaneers to an undefeated season and defeating Jim Hill High School 14-12 in the championship game.

“Playing for Temple was very super because their was always such a winning tradition there and the excitement was overwhelming,” Moore said.

Moore also served as the captain of Temple’s baseball team after playing football.

He then went on to play for Alcorn State University, but his career was cut short after an injury at practice.

Moore, along with his athletic teammates, will always be remembered for their glory days dominating on the football field for one of the best football programs the city of Vicksburg has ever had.