MORAVIA — It seems like just yesterday that Moravia Mohawks was making a magical run to the school's first-ever state baseball championship.
Just a few weeks later, many of those same student athletes have traded in their baseball uniforms for football jerseys. The confidence of beating the best schools in the state in one sport, however, is carrying over for the Mohawks as they prepare to make another magical run on the gridiron after a summer to remember on the diamond.
"We popped right into football camp after the dead week and have gotten right back to work getting ready for the season," Moravia senior Kale Moore said. "It's been a quick change of events, a quick turnaround and we're here now getting ready to go.
"We're trying to carry over all that momentum we got from baseball into the football season. We've got a lot of the game guys that are part of both teams, so hopefully that carries over and we have a good year."
Moore's arm proved to be a major factor in getting Moravia to the Iowa High School State Baseball Tournament for the first time since 1988, ultimately earning first-team all-state honors from the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association as one of the top three pitchers in Class 1A starting in three of Moravia's final four postseason games. Moore's arm is likely to be a key to the success of the Mohawk football team after completing 80 of 152 pass attempts last year as quarterback, racking up 1,242 yards and 16 touchdowns.
"We had a good football season last year and have a lot of those same guys back, so that gives me some extra confidence," Moore said. "We've got a lot of the same guys back up front that have been working hard. We're going to try to be balanced with our pass and run on offense. I think everyone's on the same page as far as what to expect."
Moore also carried the ball a team-leading 97 times for 431 yards while scoring eight touchdowns. As was the case in the baseball season, Moore can always rely on Blake Ewing to hand the ball off to as the winning pitcher in relief in Moravia's state quarterfinal baseball win over No. 1 Coon-Rapids Bayard gained 425 rushing yards on 88 carries last year, scoring a team-best nine rushing touchdowns helping the Mohawks to a 5-4 record and an Eight-Man playoff appearance.
"We proved this summer that Moravia has what it takes to beat anyone," Ewing said. "We're going to carry that over into every sport and make it deeper than we ever have.
"The whole team knows we have what it takes. When we show up and play our game, good things will happen."
While there are several familiar faces on the gridiron this season for the Mohawks, one of the key new faces will be on the sidelines this season. Justin Huber takes over as head coach of the Moravia football program after serving as head coach at Albia for the past nine seasons leading the Blue Demons to postseason play three times.
"It's been a breath of fresh air," Huber said. "The kids have been great. The community has been great. It's kind of brought a new spark to me and coaching. I needed to step away from coaching and this opportunity came open. People suggested I ought to apply for the job and it's been nothing but fun.
"It's been different. It's been a learning curve. I think that's why I'm enjoying it. It's a new challenge."
Moore, Ewing, Casen Woodward, Chase Hanes, Zander Martin and Elias Bronson all return to the gridiron for the Mohawks after starting and playing in Moravia's first-ever state baseball championship game. All six are back on the gridiron this season with a renewed confidence and a renewed hair style as members of the baseball squad all dyed their hair blond in a show of unity before competing in the state tournament.
"I told my mom I'm going to keep it for school pictures, so I'm going to have to re-dye it soon," Bronson said. "It seems to be working well for us. We could end up keeping it the rest of the year."
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