ESD Quarterback Has Individual, Team Milestones in Sight
Entering his senior season, ESD quarterback Preston Morway didn’t need to develop much chemistry with his receivers. They’re already some of his best friends.
Most of Morway’s throws in the Eagles’ pass-happy offense this season will target teammates with whom he’s played since elementary school.
“We’ve always played with each other. That makes it easier having that trust,” Morway said. “We’ve been building up for this.”
Morway hopes his longtime rapport with Brodie Burke, River Woods, Jack Loftus, and Val Mooty will help carry ESD into the SPC championship game this season.
“We’ve always played with each other. That makes it easier having that trust.” -Preston Morway
In his third season as the starter, Morway is on track to break several career quarterback records at ESD. He already broke the school mark for passing yards in a game when he threw for 477 and five touchdowns in the season opener against Trinity Christian.
“He’s had that gunslinger mentality, and that fits with our offense,” said ESD head coach Richard Williams. “He’s a tough kid. He’s matured physically and mentally.”
After leading the junior varsity squad as a freshman, Morway won the starting job before his sophomore year and has been a fixture in the backfield ever since.
“We could tell he was going to be our quarterback of the future,” Williams said.
The coach’s vision was validated later that season when Morway surpassed 350 passing yards in back-to-back wins over Casady and rival St. Mark’s to finish the year.
“From there, we knew he could put up big numbers week in and week out,” Williams said. “He’s grown a lot more comfortable reading defenses. He takes care of the football and spreads it around.”
Morway carried that momentum into his junior campaign, when he threw for more than 2,200 yards and 24 touchdowns in eight games, while also leading the Eagles in rushing.
He’s also benefited from working with Pro Football Hall of Famer and Dallas Cowboys legend Troy Aikman, who helps out the Eagles on a volunteer basis. Aikman has a stepson on the team and two daughters who attend ESD.
“It’s really special having someone like him out there,” Morway said of Aikman. “He’s helped me a lot mentally — the emotions of the game and how to control it.”
After narrowly missing postseason play last season, Morway is confident that ESD can break through this fall despite competing in the SPC’s top division.
“That hurt a lot not making it,” he said, “but it gave us extra motivation going into this year.”
