Pete Moore has been at the reins of the Gators offense for the last two seasons — and this year the QB is using past failures to pour into future success.
Still a bit wet behind the ears as an upcoming junior, the poised leader in the pocket returns as one of the youngest quarterbacks in the Northeastern Coastal Conference, yet one of the most experienced game-time signal-callers in Eastern North Carolina. With multiple players out with injuries, Pete Moore emerged in a dire situation, staying cool and collected under center to help lead the Gators to an 8–4 season and a third-round road loss to Farmville Central by just eight points.
Last season, Moore completed only 17 of 44 passes and rushed for 27 yards, but for him, the growing pains and the grind of the summer under the development of John Wheeler will only pay off under the bright lights of Friday night football.
Moore will have to be more proficient in the passing game. That development is going to get a quick start at 7-on-7 camps this upcoming summer.
Being behind Sheppard the last couple of years — and learning from a guy who will be playing on Saturdays in the fall — should help Moore’s mentorship and growth moving forward. He also has a great leader in the offense in Jordan Matthewson, who will guide Moore in going through his reads and diagnosing opposing defenses.
After having to step up in a big-time capacity with Jah Sheppard out for the season, Moore has been through the fire of running an offense and could quickly build on the chemistry found late last season. That young dawg mentality will only flow more into the diversity of the playbook.
For Moore, that fire from last year will now burn up defensive boxes that dare to blitz the Gators. Coming out of last year’s trial by fire, Moore’s focus will be on elevating the passing game — and capitalizing on where the Gators can go after narrowly falling to a perennial giant like Farmville Central on the road in last year’s playoff loss.
Ideally, Moore is just now fully grasping the scheme. But going into his first full year with the reins of the offense, his numbers should only get better — helping the offense find more of a groove, finish catches, and battle back for that Northeastern Coastal Conference title.
After being asked to quickly learn and drink from the fire hydrant, Moore is no longer just fresh in the tank, but one of the Gators’ biggest weapons as they hunt their future opponents.
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