photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State quarterback Finn Moore looks for a gap in the OIathe East defense during the Firebirds' playoff game on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

Finn Moore’s up and working out at 6:45 a.m. with the Free State football team, and later in the day, he’s at baseball practice with his club team. When he’s not lifting or practicing, he’s often at baseball tournaments.

It’s a busy summer for Moore, who is gearing up for one final year at Free State, but it’s all worth it. Moore wants to win with his longtime teammates before their time together runs out.

“I want to win really bad,” Moore said. “I want to win mostly just because all my friends care about it so much, and that’s what makes me care about it.”

Moore is going into his second season as the starting quarterback for Free State, and as successful as his junior campaign was, this year should be even better.

For starters, Moore is back in the backfield with fellow senior running back Maddon Brittingham, and the two both ran for over a thousand yards. Free State is a run-heavy team that attacks and out-physicals opposing defenses.

“We’re just going to stay aggressive and always trust our O-line and trusting our own abilities to run the ball,” Moore said of their dynamic run attack. “(We’re) not ever trying to do too much, just stay within the play, or whatever is called. I think that’ll help us a lot.”

Getting bigger, faster and stronger with offseason workouts will only help the run game improve, as will a stronger pass game. Moore said there’s no such thing as too much work on hammering down the details of the run game, and that the team is focused on being as close to perfect on run plays as possible. But with a more dynamic passing game, the offense could take another step forward.

“We know we’re going to be good at running the ball, but if we can get the passing game going too, we’re going to be unstoppable,” Moore said.

Football is just half the story when it comes to Moore’s Free State athletics career. Moore’s the third baseman for the Firebirds and is set to play for the Air Force Academy in college once he graduates.

This final year will be an interesting one for Moore and the rest of the team: It’ll be the first season without Mike Hill as the head coach. But Hill set a standard for the program that will continue on with returners like Moore making sure the team’s success continues into the next chapter of Free State baseball.

“He made everybody want to show up and do the right thing, and I think that was why we were always so good, not just because of talent,” Moore said. “There was never a problem with effort, and everyone was just always trying their hardest all the time, and I feel like that’s what allowed all of his teams to be so good.”

Holding himself and his teammates to a high standard transcends sports, and it’s something he brings to all aspects of his life. As an Air Force commit, discipline and structure are only going to become more prevalent in his college life, but it’s something he’s looking forward to.

“If you’re trying your hardest in everything you do in life, you’re going to get the most out of it,” Moore said. “Everything’s obviously not always going to go the way you want it to, but if you’re just trying your hardest, there’s no regret if you give everything you have.”

These are things Moore believes in, and it’s what he hopes to leave the next generation of Firebirds with. Leaving Free State with a lot of wins in football and baseball is important, but so is being a leader. Moore remembers having seniors to look up to when he was an underclassmen, and he wants to provide that same leadership for those that will lead the program after him.

That starts with showing up every day, bright and early at 6:45 a.m., to lead by example at workouts.

“I’m excited to play with all the younger guys, and hopefully help them learn more, and help them understand what they’re trying to do better,” Moore said. “Every year you’re always trying to look up to the seniors and perform for them, so it’s definitely different now that me and my buddies are seniors.”