Wyatt Moore living up to the family name for Notre Dame’s football program

September 8, 2023 at 7:00 a.m.
Junior receiver Wyatt Moore, a third generation participant in Notre Dame High football, stood tall after making 11 catches for 132 yards and a touchdown in the Irish's 55-45 win over Allentown Sep. 1. Rich Fisher photo
Junior receiver Wyatt Moore, a third generation participant in Notre Dame High football, stood tall after making 11 catches for 132 yards and a touchdown in the Irish's 55-45 win over Allentown Sep. 1. Rich Fisher photo

By RICH FISHER
Contributing Editor

Much like being born into a royal family, Wyatt Moore’s position in life was preordained. He would not be a prince or a king. But he would be a Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, football player.

“He knows,” Irish coach Sean Clancy said, “what Notre Dame is all about.”

Wyatt’s grandfather, Chappy Moore, was inducted into the school’s inaugural Hall of Fame class in 2008 and won 298 games, two state sectional championships and 21 division titles. The quarterback for Chappy’s 1989 state champs was Bill Moore, who happens to be Wyatt’s father.

“I was kind of born into Notre Dame,” a smiling Moore said after ND’s 55-45 win over Allentown Sep. 1. “It really wasn’t a question of where I was going.”

Clancy is just happy he came.

“He’s a fantastic kid, an excellent student,” the coach said. “He’s a hard worker. Real kind to people, just a wonderful young man.”

The junior receiver is forging another successful era to ND’s Moore legacy. As a sophomore he had 63 catches for 791 yards and 11 touchdowns. In the Irish’s 2-0 start this season, he has 19 catches for 165 yards and a TD. The Irish are 8-5 in his one-plus varsity seasons and expected to do big things this year behind Rutgers-bound quarterback AJ Surace.

But whether ND was good or bad, Moore would be there.

“Thank God AJ and all these guys are here now to help me thrive and help the team,” the Yardville resident said. “It’s a lot of fun to have AJ get you the ball and score on almost every possession.”

ND did just that in scoring TDs on eight of nine possessions against Allentown. Moore is helped by speedy receiver Michael Quinn on the opposite side.

“We’ve got a great group of kids who work really hard with AJ on the precision of their routes and their reads,” Clancy said. “I’m real proud of them.”

And Moore takes pride in where he comes from.

“I’m definitely proud to be (Chappy’s) grandson and my dad’s son,” he said. “It’s an honor to play under the same name. They’re definitely proud of playing here. I hear a bunch of stories. I just want it to be as exciting as they say it is. So far, it’s been quite a season and quite a few years.”

Much like Moore is quite the disciple of the Catholic faith. A product of St. Raphael-Holy Angels School in Hamilton, Wyatt also attends church there. He is currently one of the leaders in ND’s Catholic Athletes for Christ organization.

“Faith means a lot,” Moore said. “I thank God almost every day for this opportunity and the fact that he gave me these abilities.”

As for receiving a Catholic education, he added, “It definitely builds community and builds your relationship with God, which you can’t get at non-Catholic schools. So, it really makes it a family.”

When it comes to the Moores, Notre Dame is definitely a second family.


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Much like being born into a royal family, Wyatt Moore’s position in life was preordained. He would not be a prince or a king. But he would be a Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, football player.

“He knows,” Irish coach Sean Clancy said, “what Notre Dame is all about.”

Wyatt’s grandfather, Chappy Moore, was inducted into the school’s inaugural Hall of Fame class in 2008 and won 298 games, two state sectional championships and 21 division titles. The quarterback for Chappy’s 1989 state champs was Bill Moore, who happens to be Wyatt’s father.

“I was kind of born into Notre Dame,” a smiling Moore said after ND’s 55-45 win over Allentown Sep. 1. “It really wasn’t a question of where I was going.”

Clancy is just happy he came.

“He’s a fantastic kid, an excellent student,” the coach said. “He’s a hard worker. Real kind to people, just a wonderful young man.”

The junior receiver is forging another successful era to ND’s Moore legacy. As a sophomore he had 63 catches for 791 yards and 11 touchdowns. In the Irish’s 2-0 start this season, he has 19 catches for 165 yards and a TD. The Irish are 8-5 in his one-plus varsity seasons and expected to do big things this year behind Rutgers-bound quarterback AJ Surace.

But whether ND was good or bad, Moore would be there.

“Thank God AJ and all these guys are here now to help me thrive and help the team,” the Yardville resident said. “It’s a lot of fun to have AJ get you the ball and score on almost every possession.”

ND did just that in scoring TDs on eight of nine possessions against Allentown. Moore is helped by speedy receiver Michael Quinn on the opposite side.

“We’ve got a great group of kids who work really hard with AJ on the precision of their routes and their reads,” Clancy said. “I’m real proud of them.”

And Moore takes pride in where he comes from.

“I’m definitely proud to be (Chappy’s) grandson and my dad’s son,” he said. “It’s an honor to play under the same name. They’re definitely proud of playing here. I hear a bunch of stories. I just want it to be as exciting as they say it is. So far, it’s been quite a season and quite a few years.”

Much like Moore is quite the disciple of the Catholic faith. A product of St. Raphael-Holy Angels School in Hamilton, Wyatt also attends church there. He is currently one of the leaders in ND’s Catholic Athletes for Christ organization.

“Faith means a lot,” Moore said. “I thank God almost every day for this opportunity and the fact that he gave me these abilities.”

As for receiving a Catholic education, he added, “It definitely builds community and builds your relationship with God, which you can’t get at non-Catholic schools. So, it really makes it a family.”

When it comes to the Moores, Notre Dame is definitely a second family.

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