Dorsey’s Moore Is Ahead of His Time

It’s not too late to label sophomore Rahim Moore a football prodigy. He’s 15 years old, the starting free safety at Los Angeles Dorsey and one win away from playing in the City Section championship game at the Coliseum.

“I’m very ambitious,” he said. “I’m going to shock the world.”

There’s no goal too high and no objective too tough for the 6-foot, 175-pound Moore. He’s an outgoing, confident, energetic teenager who intends to use football and school to earn a college education.

“You will never catch me sad,” he said. “I have to laugh or smile every day. I’m full of joy every day.”

It’s hard to believe he doesn’t turn 16 until Feb. 11, because he projects the persona of a veteran. Dorsey Coach Paul Knox and defensive coordinator Ralph Caldwell had a long discussion about where to use Moore on the team.

“We debated a long time having someone that young at the free safety position,” Knox said.

It’s the last line of defense. The free safety must be smart enough and fast enough to make quick decisions that might save a touchdown on a pass or run.

“I had to prove myself,” Moore said. “I knew varsity was going to be a hard situation. I knew everybody was bigger and faster. I practiced hard. I trained hard and played hard. I learned who not to hit high, who not to hit low. I’m learning the mental game. Now I’m trying to perfect it.”

Said Caldwell: “He has instincts, he has great range, he can make plays and is very aggressive.”

Moore has five interceptions, two short of tying the school record. His speed is highly regarded because he won the City freshman-sophomore championship for 400 meters last year as a freshman and is supposed to be the heir apparent to David Gettis, Dorsey’s three-time state champion in the 400.

“That’s asking a lot,” Moore said of comparisons to Gettis. “I appreciate it. Man, David Gettis is a pretty good athlete. I love the 400 because it’s a man’s race. When you come down that stretch, you give it all the guts you have. I look at that finish line and think I’m trying to race to heaven. That’s where I want to go, and I try to get there as fast as I can.”

Moore’s mother, Nowana, has reared him as a single parent with an objective to make sure he doesn’t waste his opportunity to succeed.

“I’m on Rahim like paint on a wall,” she said. “I talk to him, talk to him, talk to him. I stay close and connected. We’re working hard on our dreams and goals.”

Rahim appreciates his mother’s contributions, saying, “My mom is my angel. I love my mom from the bottom of my heart. My mom comes into the house and she feeds us first before she feeds herself. She cares about her son and daughter.”

Moore sees himself as more than a football player. He loves engineering, dancing, acting, math and cars.

He’s looking forward to tonight’s City semifinal playoff game at Crenshaw, but he knows whatever happens is only one step in a long process to achieving his goals.

“I’m going to work so hard,” he said. “When I leave Dorsey, I want Coach Caldwell to say I was one of the best free safeties he’s ever had.”

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If Los Angeles Loyola Coach Jeff Kearin needs any more motivation for his team’s Southern Section Division I semifinal playoff game tonight against Santa Ana Mater Dei at East L.A. College, all he needs to do is tell the story of Army 1st Lt. Wesley Willard.

Willard was the Del Rey League player of the year as a running back at Loyola in 1997. He went on to play for Army, graduating in 2003. Two years later, he’s leading a platoon of 27 Army Rangers who patrol and guard Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

Last Friday, he came home to Sunland on a two-week leave. It took three days and nearly 22 hours of flying. He immediately went to watch Loyola play top-seeded Huntington Beach Edison at Huntington Beach High.

“It was awesome,” Willard said. “It was great to be back. It brought back memories of all the excitement and wanting to be out there and play again.”

Since May, Willard has been in Iraq.

“There’s a lot of adversity that happens, just like the football field,” he said. “My challenge is to make sure my guys are always on top of their game.”

Willard is scheduled to return to Iraq on Dec. 11, the day after the Division I final. He lost in the final as a sophomore, and he wants to see the Cubs win it all before he leaves.

“It would be the greatest thing,” he said. “I came so close.”

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Eric Sondheimer can be reached at eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.