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Ensworth quarterback Levi Moore ‘confident’ going into third season as starter





Ensworth quarterback Levi Moore runs upfield against Cane Ridge.Phil Stauder / Main Street Nashville

Ensworth quarterback Levi Moore runs upfield against Cane Ridge.Phil Stauder / Main Street Nashville

Levi Moore has seen a thing or two during his high school football career.

Now a senior, the Ensworth quarterback is about to enter his third season as the starter. That’s a luxury the Tigers hope to use to their advantage.

“He’s very confident at that position and knows our offense,” Ensworth coach Roc Batten said. “We give him a lot of freedom to make decisions and checks, and we do that because of his experience.”

Moore took time to develop, as all young QBs do.

Ensworth’s team was inexperienced across the board, finished 2-7 and missed the playoffs in his first year as the starter in 2020. Moore completed 58% of his passes for 1,422 yards and eight touchdowns to five interceptions.

“Being out there my sophomore year, the game went kind of fast,” Moore said. “But my junior year I was able to slow down the tempo, control the offense, see everything and make the right reads.”

Batten was pleased with the jump Moore made behind center from year one to year two.

Ensworth quarterback Levi Moore (11) gives the ball to an official after scoring a touchdown against Cane Ridge.Phil Stauder / Main Street Nashville

Ensworth quarterback Levi Moore (11) gives the ball to an official after scoring a touchdown against Cane Ridge.Phil Stauder / Main Street Nashville

The Tennessee Titans Mr. Football semifinalist completed 63% of his attempts for 2,340 yards and 24 TDs to just five INTs in 2021. He also rushed for 401 yards and four TDs on 92 carries.

Moore’s improvement helped Ensworth rack up seven wins and a Division II-AAA playoff berth.

“We watched him take the bull by the horns that offseason and get on the same page with (his receivers),” Batten said. “They were familiar with each other and the ins and outs of some of the things that we do. He was very smart with the football and made some tough throws in tight windows.”

Moore also spent hours working with his longtime trainer Scott Semptimphelter of Elite QB Training. Connecting on more long passes was part of why Moore’s completion percentage increased as a junior.

“All I focused on was getting my accuracy up so that I could have that high completion rate,” Moore said. “One of the things I worked on was completing those deep passes. It definitely paid off.”

Ensworth quarterback Levi Moore fires a pass during Thursday's scrimmage against Cane Ridge.Phil Stauder / Main Street Nashville

Ensworth quarterback Levi Moore fires a pass during Thursday’s scrimmage against Cane Ridge.Phil Stauder / Main Street Nashville

Moore said he thinks can take another step forward this season.

Although highly touted receiver Jacob Page transferred to Blackman earlier this year, Ensworth still touts Kentucky commitment Shamar Porter on the outside along with emerging names like Sean Johnson, Zaidyn Moore and DuJuan Sharp III.

“I feel very confident,” Levi Moore said. “There’s a lot of experience I’ve had from starting for two years. There’s a lot that I can see on the field to be able to lead my team where we want to be later in the year.”

Moore received his first offer from Army this spring. The 6-foot-1,180-pounder plans to play college football and is hopeful that his list of options will grow with a strong senior year.

Count Batten as a believer.

He knows the Ensworth offense is in good hands when Moore is running the show.

“It’s been amazing to see the growth in him,” Batten said. “As a sophomore QB, it was kind of hard for him to step into that vocal role with juniors and seniors. But (now) he understands he’s leading the bunch. Everybody listens to and follows him because they trust him. When your QB is the toughest and most respected kid on your team, you’ve got a chance.”

 

 

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