Mike Moreno can throw a bullet spiral. He can run like a fullback, rumbling for first downs or into the end zone between or through would-be tacklers.
So what does the Roseville High School senior especially like to do in practice?
Perfect his punting.
"Punting is my passion," Moreno said. "It's not just another job on the team. I take it seriously. It's huge to get good field position."
Moreno has been huge for the upstart Tigers, period. He completed 14 of 21 passes for 245 yards and three touchdowns, and he rushed for 108 and another score in Roseville's stirring 35-34 victory over Granite Bay, thus knocking the Grizzlies from The Bee's No. 1 spot and the ranks of the unbeatens. And he is The Bee's Prep Football Player of the Week as voted by fans and readers on www.sacbee.com.
After losing their first two games, the Tigers have won six in a row, and Moreno has his fingerprints all over the resurgence. All told, Moreno has rushed for 498 yards and seven touchdowns, and passed for 1,039 and seven scores. And he had a 65-yard punt against Del Oro.
"He's awfully good, and he's accurate and he can run," Roseville coach Larry Cunha said. "He's feeling comfortable with what he's doing, having a great year."
His most important role? Leadership.
"A leader, that's the key," Cunha said. "It's everything, and people look to you to lead."
Moreno, 6-foot and 208 pounds, is a rarity as a starter in three sports. He's also a forward in basketball and an infielder-pitcher in baseball.
"My brother Matt did it, and he inspired me," Moreno said.
Moreno finds time to maintain a 3.75 grade-point average, his course load including physics, government and intermediate cooking.
"That's a fun class, plus you get to eat," Moreno said.
Moreno said he has drawn interest only from Division III schools Menlo College and Cornell College, though he said he would love to hear from Sacramento State. He wants to major in criminal justice or business management.
For now, it's football: passing, rushing, punting, leading.
– Joe Davidson
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