By Sam Rosenblatt
Sports Reporter
Junior wide receiver Anthony DeNitto has played a pivotal role in the Lions’ regular season, scoring 10 touchdowns in his first five games.
“Even if [the season] wasn’t going so well, Anthony would be the guy that’s still there putting in 100%. He’s a special kid to coach,” said head coach Ted Dalicandro.
DeNitto scored four touchdowns in the Lions’ victory over Acton-Boxborough, including the go ahead touchdown.
“[The winning touchdown against A-B] was one of the greatest feelings ever to be a part of something so big and just to know you did your job, and everyone else around you did their job to help put together this big win,” DeNitto said.
Dalicandro said that DeNitto’s performance has definitely helped the football team’s success this season. “He’s a great player,” said Dalicandro, “He’s made some great big-time catches. He leads by example, and without him I don’t think we would have as much success.”
According to DeNitto, the combination of a whole new offense led by new assistant coach Darren Flutie (Boston College alumnus, brother of former Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie), and a talented quarterback in sophomore Austin Burton have contributed to the team’s recent success.
In addition, many of the offense’s varsity starters moved up from last year’s junior varsity team, creating chemistry within the offensive unit, according to DeNitto.
“[Anthony] knows the balance of enjoying the game and having fun, which is what football is really about, and performing at a high level,” said Dalicandro.
DeNitto’s breakout football season is only a part of his remarkable athletic résumé. The junior is also a member of the varsity basketball team in the winter and the track and field team in the spring.
DeNitto showed his versatility during last year’s track season, scoring points in a variety of events to help lead the Lions to a Dual County League Championship. He also won the boys’ decathlon and finished second in the long jump at the MIAA All-State Championship Meet. Many people consider first place in the state decathlon as the title, “The Best Athlete In The State.”
“[Winning the decathlon] was also a fantastic feeling,” DeNitto said. “It’s a great feeling to know that you’re the best in something.”
With three separate sports seasons to choose from as his favorite, DeNitto said, “The cliché answer is all of them, or whatever one I’m playing at the moment, but I’d say it’s starting to turn into football.”
Injury recently sidetrack DeNitto’s football season, as he suffered a broken collarbone in the Waltham game and will be out for a long time, according to senior football captain Adam Josephson. However, the future is still bright for DeNitto.
Looking to the future, Anthony DeNitto says he plans to play both football and track at the collegiate level. “I think I definitely want to run track in college, but now more recently football is becoming an option,” DeNitto said. “I didn’t ever think that it would happen, but its starting to look like a real possibility.”
