Anthony Moore stands in the bleachers at Vicksburg Memorial Stadium, where he starred as a prep football player in the early 1990s. Moore, 31, has been offered a contract to play with the Peoria Pirates on the arenaleague2 as a defensive back. (C. Todd ShermanThe Vicksburg Post)

[2/7/03]Anthony Moore’s passion for football brought him back to the game at age 26. At age 31, it’s keeping him going for a shot at a professional career.

Moore, a former Vicksburg High standout who went on to play at Belhaven, has been offered a contract with the Peoria Pirates of the arenafootball2 league.

Entering its fourth season, af2 serves as a developmental indoor football league for players, coaches and officials with teams in small- to mid-size markets throughout the United States.

It’s far from the bright lights of the NFL, but it is a chance for Moore to continue playing the game he loves.

“I enjoy the game, and I still love playing football,” Moore said. “I still feel like I’m 20 when I’m on the field playing.”

When he was 20, few people in the football world thought Moore was ready to play. He didn’t receive any offers to play college football after graduating from VHS in 1991, so he went to work.

He never got out of shape, though. He played flag football and ran to keep his skills sharp, and nearly seven years later he finally worked up the courage to try out for the football team at Hinds Community College.

He only spent one spring with the Eagles’ football team, but did run track and cross country for the school in the fall of 1998.

“That was just my stepping stone to get my speed prepared,” Moore said.

As it turns out, his speed was indeed prepared. Former Belhaven coach Norman Joseph, a Vicksburg native, heard about Moore’s 4.4-second 40-yard dash and invited him to the school for a tryout. Moore made the team and started at cornerback for the next four seasons.

During his time at Belhaven, Moore amazed coaches and teammates with his ability.

“If I took five guys and had them in shorts and no shirt, and said pick out the old guy in the group,’ you wouldn’t pick him,” Belhaven defensive coordinator Andy Williams said with a laugh. “He’s kept himself in tremendous shape for playing small college football.”

Moore didn’t really break out until his senior year, however, when he tied for second in the Mid-South Conference with six interceptions. He also had three fumble recoveries, three blocked field goals, and nearly 40 tackles.

“I just burst out this year. I probably could have been doing that since my freshman year,” Moore said.

Moore returned one of his picks for a touchdown against conference champion Georgetown, Ky. Moore juked several defenders on his way to the end zone, but he barely celebrated after scoring. He simply took a knee, said a prayer, and handed the ball to the official.

Williams said that was a sign of the maturity that finally allowed Moore to realize his potential.

“If that had happened two years ago, we’d have had penalties and everything else,” he said.

After the 2002 season, the Belhaven coaching staff got a call from Peoria coach Bruce Cowdrey. Cowdrey was looking for players especially cornerbacks and was a longtime friend of Williams’.

Williams convinced Cowdrey to take a look at Moore, and Cowdrey liked enough of what he saw to invite the former VHS star to camp.

Moore wasn’t so sure he wanted to go, though. He’ll graduate from Belhaven in May with a degree in sports administration and has a girlfriend in Mississippi, and wasn’t sure if he wanted to go to Illinois by himself. After talking with his coaches at Belhaven, he was finally convinced to take the shot.

“My coaches convinced me that I could play for them,” Moore said.

Now, Moore has to convince Cowdrey that he can play for him.

The Pirates are the defending AF2 champions, and brought in a pair of cornerbacks with big-time college experience.

Chris Martin started for Washington State’s 1998 Rose Bowl team, while Ricky Walker played in 12 games for Oregon State in 2000, when the Beavers won 12 games and routed Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl.

Cowdrey said he wouldn’t have brought Moore into the Pirates’ camp if he didn’t think he could compete for a roster spot, but admitted the competition was stiff. The Pirates plan to bring 35 players into camp, Cowdrey said, and will have 21 on the opening-day roster.

“I would say it’s going to be quite a challenge,” Cowdrey said. “If he was going to be a strict defensive specialist, he would have to be a great cover guy. Some of the guys on our team, I don’t know if he’s seen players like that.”

In Arena Football, most players play both offense and defense, and the short 50-yard field puts a premium on speedy receivers and defensive backs who can shut them down.

Moore pointed to his six interceptions last season, as well as his experience as a kick returner and wide receiver in high school as proof that he isn’t just a one-dimensional player.

“In high school I was a wide receiver, so it’s not a big deal,” Moore said of playing both ways. “And I caught every interception that came my way, so I can catch the ball. No doubt about that.”

Even if he doesn’t make the Pirates’ roster, Cowdrey said Moore could land with another af2 team. Moore has his sights set a little higher.

His age will probably prevent him from becoming a rags-to-riches Arena Football success story like quarterbacks Kurt Warner or Tommy Maddox, but Moore said he would like to “graduate” to the next level of football.

Making it to the Arena Football League, or NFL Europe, would be a successful career for him, Moore said.

“I want to make a career out of it,” Moore said.

“This is the first stepping stone for me, playing Arena football, and I just want to go a little further with it.”