Marple Newtown Senior is Explosive On the Field

NEWTOWN SQUARE– is getting that weighty feeling. It’s something the 5-foot-9, 165-pound senior tailback better get used to–that all eyes are on him and with each success this season, he better expect more to come.

For now, Moat is getting used to being the focal point of every defense the undefeated Tigers are going to meet. This Friday it’s formidable Ridley, an area perennial power that just lost its first game this season last weekend, while the Tigers are coming off of a

So far, Moat has rushed for 595 yards over three games, averaging an incredible 198.3 yards rushing a game. He’s explosive, shifty and, above all, exceptionally fast.

Tigers’ coach Ray Gionta is impressed, though cautious.

“Cimirrow is probably the most explosive back I’ve had,” Gionta said. “He’s fast, flat out fast, and that’s what sets him apart. But I don’t want to get too carried away here. Cimirrow is still learning the nuances of being a fullback. He’s a work-in-progress. I think he has the opportunity to be very, very good. But you have to know it’s just three games.

Gionta continued, “We have plenty of season left, and thought he’s done a great job, our offensive line has done a great job, too. It’s three games. We can’t get too far ahead of ourselves with Cimirrow or the team. Let’s see what Cimirrow and this team does against Ridley this week. That could tell a lot.”

This season has been a nice change of pace for Moat. He played wingback last season, with a handful of touches a game. There was also a bad attitude that permeated the 2010 Tigers and yanked at the morale and attitude of the younger players. It tested Moat’s fortitude.

“I think this season is about what I expected out of myself and this team,” Moat said. “I just go out there and think positive every time I play because last year was a struggle for me. We didn’t have many numbers."

Moat reflected on last year's attitude in comparison to this year.

"I don’t really know how I got through last year," said Moat. "There was a lot of negativity but I wouldn’t quit. It was frustrating, though, because I was at wingback and sometimes I didn’t think I got the ball enough, or played as well as I wanted to. It’s why I wanted to put last year behind me."

Moat rededicated himself in the off-season to improve. He lifted, worked out, his speed increased. The byproduct of that diligence came in the Tigers’ season opener, when Moat blasted by everyone to rush for a career-best 256 yards in a , establishing a new school single-game rushing record for yards in a game.

Moat also knows many think the Strath Haven victory was a fluke, placing more emphasis on this big game against Ridley but is taking that as a challenge.

“We know not too many people think we can beat Ridley; we like that,” Moat said. “People think we can’t beat someone, we use that to our advantage. My focus is the team. I don’t really think how good I am because I want to constantly get better. I ignore the numbers and stats. I want our team to win and finish with a winning record. I want positive things to happen for us, not just me, the whole team.”