Pacifica High junior quarterback Vince Moraga has the swagger that comes with being a veteran quarterback.

Although he was the Tritons' starting quarterback as a sophomore, Moraga didn't feel comfortable trying to be a team leader among a group of senior veterans.

That's not the case in 2007. With talented seniors like Raynard Pamilton having graduated, it's now Moraga's turn to lead the Tritons.

"I am feeling really comfortable," Moraga said. "Last year I got more comfortable every game, but we had a lot of team leaders, so I didn't take on a leadership roll.

"This season I will have a lot more chances to lead this team and it's something I am looking forward to."

Pacifica head coach Donnie Rea will count on his junior signal-caller heavily in 2007.

Pacifica has installed a shotgun formation with the hope of giving Moraga more time to use his strong arm and quick feet to make plays.

Rea said he and the other coaches were impressed with Moraga from the first time they saw him take a snap, and their appreciation continues to grow. Because it's unusual for a sophomore to earn the varsity starting job, Rea kept Moraga on a fairly tight leash in 2006. It figures to be different in 2007.

"This year we are going to allow him to do more," Rea said. "His role last year was not to take anything over, it was to keep things organized.

"We can give him freedom to make more plays this season. If he sees the defense stacked to one side or the other, he will have the freedom to audible to another play that takes advantage of that situation."

Moraga is excited about getting the chance to make more plays, especially from the shotgun. He said the formation will allow him to see the field more clearly.

"I am excited about what we're doing on offense," Moraga said. "Knowing that Coach Rea has more confidence in me makes me feel great.

"I think we're going to do a lot of good things on offense."

Moraga believes his strengths include speed, solid foot work and a strong arm. He also cited his ability to throw on the run.

Moraga admitted he was spotty at reading defenses last season, something that led to some bad decisions during games.

In an effort to improve all his skills, Moraga put in a lot of time in the offseason.

He was involved in the Young Athletes for Christ program, where he was tutored by college athletes to improve his technique.

He also went to five football combines, including one in San Jose where he met Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana. Moraga learned how to break down game film, a skill he feels will help him greatly this season.

"I did it a little last year, but this year I plan to do a lot more," Moraga said. "I want to make better decisions this year and being more prepared will help me do that."

Moraga's goals for this season include passing for 2,000 yards and throwing at least 20 touchdown passes.

But his primary goal is to lead his team to the CIF playoffs, something that no other Pacifica football squad has accomplished.

"We know the league is tough, but we feel we can compete for the title," Moraga said. "We're not going to worry about the other teams, we're just focusing on what we have to do."