Monday, Dec. 15, 2008

Prosser father/son duo sweep All-Area football top honors

By Rene Ferran, Herald staff writer

PROSSER -- If more is better, are more Moores the best?

Boise State sure thinks so, and so does the Herald sports staff.

Prosser senior Kirby Moore was selected as the All-Area football team MVP, while Mustangs coach Tom Moore was named the Coach of the Year.

"It's a great honor," Kirby Moore said. "There are a lot of great players out there. But this is a team accomplishment. Without the offensive line, Jordan (Durbin) at quarterback, the other receivers, none of the stats I had would be put up.

"It was a pleasure to be part of the Prosser program. It's been surreal."

It is the third time in four years that Tom Moore has been honored -- in 2005, he was selected alongside his older son, Kellen, who went on to star this season at quarterback as a redshirt freshman at Boise State.

"It's just a tribute to our football program," said Tom Moore, who is now 234-38 in 23 seasons at Prosser.

Kirby will follow in big brother's footsteps next fall and join the Broncos program, and like Kellen, he does so with a slew of state and national records to his credit.

Kirby caught a national-record 34 touchdown passes this season and 95 for his career. He also set the state record for career all-purpose touchdowns with 99.

For the season, he caught 131 passes (No. 3 on the all-time national list) for 2,126 yards (No. 4 all-time) and those 34 TDs.

His career numbers rival those of last year's All-Area MVP, Cody Bruns -- 304 catches (No. 4 nationally, with Bruns No. 2) for 4,854 yards (No. 4 nationally, with Bruns No. 2) and 95 TDs.

Moore also was a standout defensive back, earning first-team All-CWAC honors for the second straight year.

"I've been fortunate to be able to coach them since second grade," said proud father Tom. "From Grid Kids and AAU basketball to now, it's just been great."

But of all the numbers Kirby racked up over his career, one stands out in his mind.

"I'd say 14-0 last year," he said, referring to Prosser's 2A state title in 2007. "That was the biggest thing, winning the state championship. All those other numbers come and go. But a state title is what I had my mind set on."

And the Mustangs came up just short of a second straight title last weekend, losing 35-34 in two overtimes to Lynden in the championship game at the Tacoma Dome.

The Mustangs had a chance to win after Moore caught his final TD pass in the second overtime but could not hit on the two-point conversion.

It snapped Prosser's 27-game winning streak, although the Mustangs still have won 37 straight regular-season games and are unbeaten in CWAC play since joining the conference in 2006.

"Our kids really worked hard all year, and I just hope that those last 21/2 yards don't take away from that," Tom Moore said. "Ninety percent of players and coaches never get close to that 21/2 yards."

While it's 100 percent sure that Kirby Moore has played his final game in a Prosser uniform, what isn't known is whether it was Tom's last game prowling the Mustangs sideline.

Rumors swirled at the end of the year that he was planning to step down to follow his sons' college careers.

"We're going to talk about that after the holidays," he said. "Right now, I'm looking forward to basketball (Kirby plays for the Mustangs, while Tom coaches the JV boys team), and to a family holiday at the Poinsettia Bowl (Boise State plays TCU on Dec. 23). We'll figure this all out in January."

Kirby Moore was one of three Mustangs named to the All-Area first team, along with repeat selections Durbin and offensive lineman Nate Meeske.

Moore is one of three players named first team on both sides of the ball, along with Richland seniors Jamison Rowe and Peter Girgis.

Rowe, in fact, was named at three positions -- wide receiver, defensive back and kick returner.