Washington-Liberty High School senior Jon Malatesta has put together quite a highlight tape full of acrobatic catches this season. So with the Generals’ defensive lineup thinned by injuries this past week, the coaching staff turned to Malatesta to play cornerback.
It took a few series for Malatesta to begin figuring out how to play the position. Coach Josh Shapiro noticed Malatesta struggling with basic concepts and tried to give the three-sport standout some pointers, only to be met with a quizzical look.
“I don’t think he’s ever had an individual drill as a defensive back,” Shapiro said. “But we just said, ‘Lock this kid up.’ It took him a half (of a game) to figure out the nuances of covering somebody. He just learned and adapted.”
Malatesta later nabbed his first career interception, to go along with a standout offensive performance of 10 catches for 138 yards and four touchdowns as undefeated Washington-Liberty beat Langley, 28-14, to clinch the Liberty Conference title.
For his efforts, Malatesta was named the Military Bowl DC Touchdown Club High School Football Player of the Week.
It was just the latest strong outing by Malatesta, who has made a habit of this for his Arlington school. He also plays forward on the basketball team and attack on the lacrosse team, where last spring, he was a second-team all-region selection.
Malatesta came out for the football team as a sophomore and played on the junior varsity, before starting at wide receiver last season as the Generals featured current Bucknell wide receiver Jackson Nowinski.
“He was an undercard last year (to Jackson), but I think Jon is just as good, if not better,” Shapiro said. He’s a phenomenal athlete — great body control and terrific hand-eye coordination. He’s made some incredible catches this year.”
Malatesta told Shapiro that football is just a “side hustle” and that lacrosse is his focus. Shapiro has watched Malatesta shine on the lacrosse field, but he isn’t convinced that his player’s best sport isn’t football. In nine games this season, Malatesta has 54 catches for 699 yards and 16 touchdowns.
“He’s the whole package — smart, good size, long,” Shapiro said. “And you never hear a bad word from him. He’s quiet but funny with an adult sense of humor. I asked him when he was coming to pick up his equipment before the game. He barely stopped and said, ‘Two and a pick, Coach.’”
That turned out to be close enough.
This week’s DC Touchdown Club Honor Roll:
ANNE ARUNDEL
Glen Burnie WR-DB Will Jacobs caught a touchdown pass, threw a 46-yard pass and on defense made seven tackles with one sack and returned two interceptions for touchdowns as the Gophers beat Severna Park, 42-17.
DC
Coolidge QB Aleem Moore completed 12 of 16 passes for 294 yards and two touchdowns and rushed four times for 32 yards and one touchdown as the Colts beat Theodore Roosevelt, 28-21.
FREDERICK
Linganore RB Bradley Matthews rushed 26 times for 269 yards and five touchdowns as the Lancers beat rival Urbana, 49-14, to win the I-70 trophy.
HOWARD
Atholton RB Lawson Mungo rushed 16 times for 224 yards and four touchdowns as the Raiders beat Marriotts Ridge, 27-26.
LOUDOUN
Lightridge QB Brady White completed 12 of 22 passes for 353 yards and a school-record five touchdowns as the Bolts beat Riverside, 42-7.
MONTGOMERY
Paint Branch TE/DB Yvan Kemajou, a Penn State recruit, caught two passes including a 36-yard touchdown and on defense made seven tackles with one tackle for loss and forced a fumble that results in a safety as the Panthers beat Bethesda-Chevy Chase, 23-10.
PRINCE GEORGE’S
Wise RB DeCarlos Young, a Temple recruit, returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown and scored two more touchdowns, as he passed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season, leading the Pumas to their eighth consecutive win, 62-0 over Northwestern.
PRINCE WILLIAM
Forest Park RB Landon Hunt rushed 27 times for 253 yards and six touchdowns as the Bruins beat Colgan, 43-28.
PRIVATE
St. John’s Catholic Prep QB Demarco Villadares completed 19 of 27 passes for 412 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for another score as the Vikings beat Annapolis Area Christian, 44-13.
SOUTHERN MARYLAND
North Point DB Seth Gathers intercepted two passes in the fourth quarter as North Point held off Westlake, 21-6.
WCAC
St. Mary’s Ryken RB Malachi Milburn rushed 24 times for 201 yards as the Knights beat Carroll, 51-12.
Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.
© 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
