Moore, Quakers shaping identity on football field

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, September 21, 2018 | 8:12 PM

Ethan Moore shined in the infield for Quaker Valley’s baseball team in the spring.

This fall, the Kent State baseball recruit gets to show what he can do in the Quakers’ backfield as the starting quarterback for the football team.

Through the team’s first three games, Moore paced the squad with his arm and legs. The senior led the team with 191 yards rushing and completed 26 of 63 passes for 563 yards and three touchdowns.

“He’s such an unbelievable athlete that a lot of things come to him naturally,” Quaker Valley coach Ron Balog said. “He is so coachable. He is just a great kid. He cares and he’s passionate. When you mix that with the talent he has, you’ll get good results.”

Moore played a part in Quaker Valley’s WPIAL and PIAA championships last season. With quarterback Ricky Guss in place, Moore got involved with the offense on the ground and in the air. He had 16 catches for 193 yards and ran 39 times for 389 yards. He took over under center this fall.

“Each week, I feel more comfortable. I’ve played the QB position my whole life. Each week, I get more comfortable with the players around me and with my line and my scheme. I’ve been feeling better each week,” Moore said. “All of these guys have a lot of talent. It’s just taken us some time to see what guys can do what and what we can do well with the guys in our offense.”

The Quakers are trying to establish their own identity this fall after graduating a talented and deep senior group from last year’s championship squad. After an 18-0 win over Central Valley to open the campaign, Quaker Valley fell to Aliquippa, 59-6, and Beaver Falls, 25-14, in Tri-County West Conference play.

“We’ve had a couple of rough losses,” Moore said. “But, if you look at the games, we’ve had some big plays and shining moments, so we know we have some potential there. We’ve definitely made improvement. There’s a lot of stuff going right and some stuff going wrong.

“Plus, after winning last year, teams are looking to knock our heads off. It’s been tough to step into the role I am in. I have to be the leader and the player everyone can go to. I love the challenge, the guys I play with and the position.”

Balog has been impressed with the progress Moore and his teammates have made.

“He gets better and better week. We feed him as much as we think he can handle and it’s worked out,” he said. “Obviously, Aliquippa was a little rough and they’ll be a little rough for everybody. Against Beaver Falls, we had a couple breakdowns defensively in the third quarter and that’s what ended up doing us in. Ethan had over 300 yards passing in that game and I think, with each snap, he gets better and better. He still only has three varsity starts under his belt.

“This team, still to a certain extent, is looking for its own identity. I believe we are a good football team and we’ll get better each week as the season goes on.”

Moore’s top target, so far, is Ryan Jackovic, who had six catches for 155 yards. Isaac Guss, Demetrios Perez, Sylvio Cercone and Dylan Moore, Ethan’s younger brother, have been involved in the passing game as well.

“He is becoming more and more comfortable with throwing to more and more targets,” Balog said. “We’ve encouraged him to make reads and he’s been doing it.”

Moore just hopes his team can get back to the postseason.

“When we look at each other in the locker room, yeah, we’re young and some people are in new positions, but we’re into the season and that’s not an excuse anymore,” Moore said. “Now, it’s on us to win these games and get to playoffs.”

Joe Sager is a freelance writer.

Tags: Quaker Valley