Moore the Merrier for Hamilton High : Preps: Although he is a standout in the secondary, Coach John Ausbon has asked the senior to be the Yankee quarterback too.

It was late in the afternoon and Hamilton High standout Kelvin Moore was tired. With each sprint the Yankees ran at the end of their weekday football practice, he struggled to keep pace.

However, it is not in Moore’s nature to give up. As his teammates complained, he took it upon himself to take charge and find that last burst of energy. Finishing first is important to Moore.

“I have to push myself a little harder because there is a lot of pressure for me to do so now,” said Moore, 17, who is regarded as one of Southern California’s top prep recruits. “I used to just see myself as an athlete and then student, but now I know I have to be a student/athlete at all times.”

Since his first Pop Warner game nine years ago, Moore has always done well on a football field. He was a two-way starter at Hamilton as a sophomore and was an All-City 3-A Division defensive back last season.

But off the field, Moore acknowledges that he has at times lacked direction.

“I was very laid-back and into girls at first,” he said. “But, once I saw that I had a chance to go to college, I knew that I had to try harder and get (girls) off my mind.”

It is recognition in football that has helped Moore in the classroom.

With a newfound interest to study, Moore has improved his grade-point average to 2.5 and has spent weeks preparing for next month’s Scholastic Aptitude Test.

“Most teachers here know that I have an opportunity to go to college and they are pushing me harder,” said Moore, who plans to study criminal justice in college. “They can see me doing better in the classroom and are constantly on me.”

At 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, Moore has the size and speed that makes people notice. His trademark has been his ability to hit hard. Although he is a safety on defense, he plays more like a middle linebacker.

“He has been an outstanding ballplayer for us ever since he walked on the football field,” Hamilton Coach John Ausbon said. “He’s a real hitter.”

Moore does not have to look beyond his family to be among the City’s best players. The only two returning All-City 4-A players are Antonio Carrion of Dorsey and Brandon Moore of Banning. They are Moore’s cousins.

“One of the things I like to do is read about other high school players,” Moore said. “I like to read about them and compare myself with them. I want to be the best, and the thing is that two of them are my cousins.”

Moore also has his brother Chavez to keep up with. The older Moore was also a standout at Hamilton who went on to play defensive back at Ball State. He now plays for a semipro team, the Orange County Dolphins.

Although Moore has led Hamilton in tackles the past two seasons, he has also played receiver and quarterback.

This season, however, Moore has had to take over as the Yankees’ quarterback.

“He had no choice,” said Ausbon, in his fourth season at Hamilton. “Even though he doesn’t want to play there, we need him at quarterback. He’s doing it for me, and if he stays healthy, he can lead us to a league and conference championship.”

Hamilton finished 3-8 in 1991, but has 15 starters returning.

Moore helped Hamilton to a 30-3 season-opening victory over Eagle Rock on Friday. He completed five of seven passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns.

“At first I didn’t like playing quarterback because our line was so inexperienced,” Moore said. “But now we have a much stronger team and as long as I can stay injury-free we should do well.”