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MIKE MALIZIA - SR., TE/DL, CAMERON COUNTY |
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| BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION |
- Name: Michael Patrick Malizia
- Age: 18 (19 on Dec. 28)
- Parents: Paul and Beth Malizia
- Siblings: Sister Annie Mazumdar (26), Brothers Joseph (24), Thomas (22), John (20)
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| THE SKINNY |
- This Year:
Malizia has 15 tackles, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and two passes defended
while helping the Red Raiders defense rank 8th in District 9 in points allowed at 11.5
ppg. He has also caught one pass for 15 yards and a touchdown.
- Notable: Two of his older brothers, Tom and
Joe, played college football at Edinboro ... Last year, Mike played a key role on Cameron County's District 9-leading defense (8.1 ppg) last year
recording 91 tackles, which was fourth on the team.
- Career Stats:
11 catches, 184 yards, 4 touchdowns; 112 tackles
- Up Next:
Cameron County hosts Coudersport Friday night in a game that very well could decided the
AML-North title in Week 5. Last season, the Red Raiders beat Coudy 28-16 on its way to
the AML North championship.
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| QUESTION & ANSWER |
| Q:
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After losing so many seniors last season, some thought Cameron County would take
a step backward this year. Through the first four weeks that hasn’t happened. What
has been the key to the early-season success with so many new players in key roles?
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| A: |
Although many starters left last year, many of
the backups from last year played a lot in the regular season games because our coach
substituted the second string for the first string to rest the first string almost
every game. This gave the backups a lot of needed experience points for this
year. The starters this year also all had undefeated junior high seasons in all
of their three years.
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| Q:
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In four weeks, your team has won two overtime contests including last week’s
huge win at Curwensville. What has been the difference in winning those games close
this year?
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| A: |
Kane was our toughest game yet, but Curwensville
seemed to just make the break on some big plays. In the Kane game, we all were
extremely tired when it came to overtime, and none of us ever played in overtime
before either. The excitement of our first overtime gave us another drive to go
all out. In Curwensville, we knew our defense could hold them, because we held
the run (game down) all game. Both of the games had the crowd on the edge of
their seats.
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| Q:
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As with most players from small schools, you have to play both sides of the
football. What side of the ball do you prefer to play on and why?
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| A: |
I prefer to play defense, because that was what I
was brought up to varsity to play in my freshman year. Defense is much more fun
to me because I love to make the game-winning tackle or make the big play. Just
as it's been said, defense wins games.
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| Q:
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What challenges are presented to you on the defensive side of the football with
the more open offenses that are being run today?
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| A: |
Most of the teams we have played this year have
all seemed to pass all the time. It's a lot easier to read the pass than where
the run is going because I can see the quarterback stand up as opposed to the run
when the running backs are running with their shoulders down to the hole.
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| Q:
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What
are your plans after high school? |
| A: |
I plan on attending Penn State, either Main
campus or Altoona.
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| FAVORITES |
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Puff, Puff, Pass |
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Scrubs |
- Sport other than football:
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Basketball |
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Calculus |
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Rock
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- Favorite pro sports team:
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Pittsburgh Steelers |
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SOCOM II: US Navy Seals; Rock Band 2 |
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