Diminutive Maldonado plays a big role in Manheim Township’s success
2024 Berks football coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
(This story was produced by LNP/Lancasteronline, and published in partnership with MikeDragoSports.com.)
By Jason Guarente — LNP/Lancasteronline
SOUTH LEBANON — Some teams might look at Allan Feliciano Maldonado and wonder how he could help them. He’s 5-foot-7, 145 pounds and shouldn’t be able to thrive in a land of giants.
Manheim Township found Feliciano Maldonado’s niche almost instantly. From the time the junior was on the freshman team, he was the Blue Streaks’ kick returner of the future.
Feliciano Maldonado remembers when it happened. He took one kickoff back 99 yards and another 96 yards as a ninth-grader. That made a big impression.
“He’s a water bug,” Township coach Mark Evans said. “He gets in there and scoots around. He’s got speed. He’s got moxie. He’s explosive. He’s a game-changer and a momentum-changer.”
Feliciano Maldonado had a few electrifying moments to help Township defeat Cedar Crest 38-13 in a Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1 game at Earl Boltz Stadium Friday night.
There was a punt return that went 32 yards, another that covered 27 yards and a kickoff return of 51 yards that was erased by a penalty.
Feliciano Maldonado has played this brutal game since he was seven. He’s no stranger to being the little guy.
“Always.” he said with a smile.
Was that ever intimidating?
“Nah, every big guy couldn’t tackle me,” he said. “I still think that to this day.”
Feliciano Maldonado said he tucks the ball under his arm and squats down so it’s hard to find him in the crowd. Once he gains speed, tackling him in the open field looks almost impossible.
Township is built around large men: running back Declan Clancy, left tackle Spencer McClintock, defensive linemen Taylor Veilleux and Julian Larue. Then there’s Feliciano Maldonado.
“He does it a different way,” Clancy said. “He’s got great balance and great concentration and he’s shifty. He makes smart plays. He knows when to catch it, when to not and when to go down,”
The most impressive part of Township’s performance against Cedar Crest couldn’t be found in any statistic. It was that the Blue Streaks played their “C” game and still dismissed a potential District 3 Class 6A playoff team.
They overcame two defensive lapses and multiple turnovers in the red zone to post a 25-point victory on the road.
“We’ve got to learn to not play with our food,” Evans said. “We’ve got to eat. That’s a message to the team. Every week we’re picking out something our program needs culturally. One thing right now is we have to put the hammer down.”
Carson Weisser passed for 244 yards and four touchdowns. The senior connected with Daryus Dixon on TD strikes of 49 and 34 yards, Lex Haberbosch for a 36-yard score and Charlie Hill for a 15-yard TD.
Clancy did the rest. Township’s all-time leading rusher added to his career totals by rumbling for 232 yards on 31 carries.
Everyone with a lightning bolt on his helmet is content to fill his role. Tom Capizzi, who had a sack and a fumble recovery, is one of the most overlooked two-way players in the L-L. Luke Wagner is terrific on special teams. On and on it goes.
Feliciano Maldonado’s role couldn’t be more clear. He changes field position with his returns and is a threat to take every one of them the distance.
“I’ve got mad heart for this game,” he said. “I’ve put too much work in to let myself be a failure.”
Feliciano Maldonado figured it out pretty quickly. It doesn’t matter how small he is if no one can catch him.
