Aanjay Feliciano has turned out to be a great catch for Conrad Weiser
Aanjay Feliciano admits he wasn’t a very good running back. That’s turned out to be a good thing for him, and the Conrad Weiser Scouts.
Five seasons after moving to wide receiver he’s the most accomplished pass-catcher in program history and within range of the all-time Berks record for receiving yards.
“I really don’t think I would’ve believed it, if you told me that (a few years ago),” said Feliciano. “I really wasn’t good at football; I liked basketball more coming into high school. I guess my mentality changed.”
As an eighth-grader he hooked up with quarterback Logan Klitsch, creating a long-lasting bond that extends to other sports and off the field.
Berks all-time receiving yardage leaders
| Nolan McCready | Wyomissing | 2,110 | 1999-2001 |
| Trey Freeman | Twin Valley | 2,093 | 2018-2021 |
| Alex Javier | Exeter | 1,950 | 2017-19 |
| Zack Keeley | Daniel Boone | 1,942 | 2007-08 |
| Ian Firestone | Wilson | 1,907 | 1998-01 |
| Tony Hardy | Reading High | 1,893 | 1989-91 |
| Nate Ottaviani | Schuylkill Valley | 1,888 | 1998-2001 |
| Ernie Woolf | Schuylkill Valley | 1,877 | 1997-99 |
| Aanjay Feliciano | Conrad Weiser | 1,860 | 2019-21 |
| Josh Smith | Wilson | 1,842 | 2004-06 |
Together they have formed one of the greatest pass-catch combinations in Berks football history. Klitsch owns just about every passing record the Scouts have and is on the verge of becoming just the fourth passer in Berks history to top 5,000 career yards.
“(Aanjay’s) a great football player, a great teammate, a great friend,” Klitsch said, “and we’re getting him the ball as much as possible.”
They did last week, when he had seven catches for 136 yards and three touchdowns in a half against Kutztown.
Same for the week before, when he had seven catches for 135 yards in a key win over New Oxford; he also ran 34 yards for a touchdown.
He’s topped 100 yards seven time in nine weeks; his 195 yards vs. Elco is tops in Berks this season.
Feliciano leads Berks in receptions (52), receiving yards (1,054) and TD catches (12). He’s another big game away from becoming just the third in Berks history from reaching 2,000 career yards, though those yards will be tough to come by Saturday at Wyomissing.
The Spartans have the Berks Football League’s top-rated defense and one of the great cornerback combos in league history in Nevin Carter and Amory Thompson, each a three-year starter. They’re both tall and fast and will fight Feliciano for every yard.
It should be quite a battle.
“Aanjay’s a great receiver, a DI talent,” said Thompson. “Logan’s committed to Dartmouth, a DI talent. It’s going to be a challenge for us but I’m excited about it.”
“It feels like we barely get (challenged),” said Carter. “We always look forward to the passing teams; we know it’s gonna be a game for us. Whoever throws it, we’re ready.”
Klitsch, Berks’ top-rated passer, will be throwing it, and a lot; that much is certain. And he’ll be targeting Feliciano. No mystery there, either.
Locating the league’s most productive receiver will be the hard part. He lines up in every conceivable spot on the field — split wide, in tight as a split end, in the slot, the backfield, you name it. It’s like playing “Where’s Waldo.”
“I’m not gonna lie, in the beginning it was hard to remember every single spot on the field (where I had to line up),” Feliciano said, “but it’s helped (get me into open space).”
Feliciano is dangerous on drags over the middle, swing passes out of the backfield, screen passes. At 6-3 he’s taller than most defensive backs and is at his best going up to get the ball.
Klitsch knows that and isn’t afraid to put the ball up there and let Feliciano make a play. What most would consider a 50-50 ball Klitsch considers a “75-25 ball” because of his top target’s leaping ability.
“He has all the qualities you want to see in a receiver,” said Scouts coach Alan Moyer. “He goes up for balls, gets ’em at the highest point, has good balance and very, very good body control.”
The Scouts are at their best when things break down, Klitsch escapes the pocket, then looks downfield. He has the ability to throw on the run or tuck it under and make big plays. He knows that as he’s buying time Feliciano is finding a way to get open.
Most of the records Feliciano has broken were owned by Matt Weiser, a 6-5 tight end who was so good in the pass game he evolved into a split end. When Feliciano broke a couple of his records a few weeks ago Weiser reached out and congratulated him on Twitter.
“That was special to me,” Feliciano said. “I felt like a little celebrity. Matt Weiser was a pretty good ballplayer, so to be able to say I broke something that he accomplished is special to me. I’m going to remember that for the next 30, 40 years. It’s probably something I’ll put on my resume.”