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MIDDLETOWN >> Anthony Paoletti unclipped his shoulder pads with one hand as he played catch with a little guy half his size.
“Isn’t your arm getting tired?” Paoletti, Marple Newtown’s quarterback, asked 5-year-old Daniel Presser, who shook his head and extended the back-and-forth tosses.
A post-game workout was the last thing Paoletti needed, given his workload during Friday night’s game, but the senior was happy to oblige. Paoletti and Marple Newtown dispatched host Penncrest, 35-14, Friday night at Louis W. Scott Stadium.
Paoletti rushed for one touchdown and threw for two more, as the Tigers (2-0, 1-0) cruised. He finished 8 for 10 with 209 yards through the air, including a 70-yard catch-and-run touchdown connection with Carmen Christiana. Paoletti also carried six times for 39 yards.
Heavy workload for him? Sure. But Paoletti and his Marple Newtown teammates also had heavy hearts.
The Tigers played their Central League opener in honor of Daniel’s brother, Michael, 7, who passed away a year ago after a brief battle with Leukemia. The Presser family, including father Dave and mother Kristen, who live in Broomall, were on hand for the game. Dave and Daniel watched from the Tigers’ sideline. And all three met with players in the locker room in pregame.
Dave Presser, a 1994 Marple Newtown alumnus, said the outpouring of support from the community has been tremendous. And at a youth-night event a few months ago, he approached Marple Newtown coach Chris Gicking to personally say thanks. He never expected Gicking would respond by inviting the family to meet his team.
“Their story just puts life into perspective, and the least we can do is show them our love and support, and let them know that we’re always thinking about them,” Gicking said.
“From the moment we learned that Michael was sick, we heard from so many people who expressed their support,” said Presser. “It means a lot to be a part of this community.”
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