Phantoms’ defense getting healthy

FLORENCE — The Florence Phantoms’ defense will be getting a big boost tonight.

Defensive end Leonard “Pac Man” Moore and nose tackle Corey Groover, two of the team’s top defensive players, will make their return against Carolina.

Moore has been out since week three when he suffered a hamstring injury against Columbus. The return of Moore should bolster the team’s pass rush, which only has nine sacks in eight games.

Moore had seven sacks last season for Florence.

“He is just an amazing physical specimen and very strong,” Florence coach Mike Watson said. “He just has such good football knowledge and is great for us coming off the end.”

Groover didn’t play two weeks ago against Reading because of a sprained knee. The two-time AIFA All-Star selection leads the team with two sacks and provides help up front in stopping the run.

“He is an all-around good football player and is one of the top two or three defensive linemen in this league,” Watson said of Groover. “It’s good to have him back.”

Without Moore, Groover and defensive back Larry Thompson, Florence had its six-game winning streak snapped two weeks ago with a 66-55 loss to Reading. The 66 points were a season-high and Watson said the loss of his starters definitely contributed.

“You can’t take anything away from Reading, but had those guys been involved, the outcome would have been 100 percent different,” he said. “It’s hard to scheme and stop both of them. Pac Man and Groover play off of each other and it’s contagious. Everybody starts playing at a higher level.”

The Phantoms will need Moore and Groover to put some pressure on Carolina quarterback Cleveland McCoy, who played at South Carolina State and took over for Tribble Reese last week. McCoy, who threw for two TDs two weeks ago in the win over D.C., also is capable of running the ball.

“He also can line up at receiver too,” Watson said. “We’ve got to be able to know where he is at all time.”

Notes

This will be the third meeting between Carolina and Florence. Each team has won on the other’s home field. Both teams are coming off byes… Watson said Thompson, who leads the AIFA in interceptions, is questionable with a knee injury. … Florence trails Columbus by ½ game in the South Division standings. Columbus is off this week. … The Phantoms lead the AIFA in total offense with 289.6 yards per game. QB Omar Jacobs leads the league in passing yards per game with 291.2… During the bye week, the Phantoms teamed up with Golden Corral to put on a car wash to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network.