Mora a special talent for Dalton

Published 9:18 pm Wednesday, November 30, 2016

DALTON — The Dalton High School football team enters Friday night’s Class 6A semifinal against Valdosta with speedy receivers, shifty running backs and hard-hitting linebackers. But few players can affect the game as dramatically as Ivan Mora, the Catamounts’ do-it-all kicker.

The sophomore handles every aspect of the Catamounts’ kicking game — kickoffs, field goals, extra points and punts. Mora’s right foot and leg should be active as the Catamounts (13-0) take on Valdosta (12-1) at Harmon Field at 7:30 p.m. for a spot in the state championship game in the Georgia Dome next Friday.

Dalton coach Matt Land said Mora’s importance to the team rests in his ability to excel in all parts of the kicking game.

“When he’s kicking, 75 percent of his kickoffs go into the end zone, the fact that a high school team has to drive the ball 80 yards, is an unbelievable advantage,” Land said. “But then you add to it that he’s been near perfect on field goals and consistent on extra points. He could average well over 40 yards a punt but we use him in shorter yardage situations to play for field position and probably close to 30-40 percent of his kicks have landed inside the 20.

“He is a team player and not a stat-driven player. He’s a kid that understands what the game is about and how much impact he can have.”

Mora may not be a stat-driven player, but he certainly has the numbers to support Land’s claims. He’s made 12 of 17 field goals this season, including a long of 48 yards, and has recorded 48 touchbacks on kickoffs. His punting average is a respectable 37.8 yards per kick, but 18 of his 42 attempts have been downed inside the 20-yard line, which is key in winning the field position battle.

Mora appreciates how important his contributions can be. “Every time I go out on the field I try to do my job as best I can,” Mora said. “I expect to make every field goal, have a good punt average and to get every ball in the end zone.”

The last name Mora may sound familiar to area football fans, as the kicker is carrying on a family tradition at Dalton. Mora is the younger brother of Eder Mora, who was The Daily Citizen’s Player of the Year for both football and soccer in his time as a Catamount from 2011-2015. The elder Mora played linebacker for the Catamounts in addition to punting and now plays NCAA Division I soccer at the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

Ivan Mora just handles the kicking duties, at least for now. “I have actually thought about (playing other positions) and I still think about it,” he said. “I don’t know. Right now, just sticking to kicking is on my mind. Maybe next year. I think the wide receiver position looks like a lot of fun.”

Regardless of whether Mora follows in his brother’s footsteps to provide an impact in areas other than special teams, Land said there is a common thread between the two brothers that has led to each of their success.

“Ivan is certainly cut from the same cloth and the Moras are one of the finest families in this community and certainly some of the finest athletes to come through Dalton High School,” Land said. “The trademark of that family is hard work. It’s not performance on the field (during games), it’s performance on the practice field, in the weight room and in the classroom.

“He has that gene in him that he is going to outwork anyone on the field, whether it’s a kicker, linebacker or quarterback. He’s outworking everyone on the field.”

Mora is also a two-sport star, having started and played a significant role for the soccer team in 2016 as a freshman. However, Land believes Mora may be more enticed to pursue football exclusively if he continues to focus on only kicking.

“I think since he’s committed to only kicking that the allure of college football will be difficult from him to walk away from,” Land said. “He’s going to be wanted by the Auburns, Floridas, Tennessees, Georgias and Alabamas. I get phone calls about him once a week checking in on him already. I think we will see him playing a lot more football.”

For now, Mora insists he enjoys both equally. But he knows he has two more years before he needs to make that choice, as soccer and football are both fall sports in college.

“When it’s football season, (my favorite) is football. When it’s soccer season, it’s soccer,” Mora said. “I love both sports. I’m really happy coach is getting those calls. But I just got to try to keep doing what I’ve been doing for him to get those calls, and if I do that then I will have the opportunity to make that choice.”