Safety Sean Maloney

MALONEY A BIG HIT

for Lower Moreland Football

BY JOE MASON

Sean Maloney the football player is much different than Sean Maloney the person.

Maloney is a senior on the Lower Moreland High School football team, and if you see him around the neighborhood, at a barbecue or in school, you’ll find a very nice young man.

On the football field, let’s just say you don’t want to be carrying a football when Maloney is playing safety.

“I’m small, so people might not know I can hit, but I’ve always been a pretty big hitter,” said Maloney, a 5-foot-11, 155-pound safety, wide receiver and part-time outside linebacker who lives in Huntingdon Valley. “I learned to be a big hitter when playing for the BuxMont Saints, a very good football team that is known for being tough. They teach you to hit.

“Sometimes people are surprised. They’ll meet me and say I’m not mean even though I hit hard. I take it as a (compliment). I am a nice person, I just love playing football and I love hitting people.”

Maloney has been giving bumps and bruises to opposing football players since his freshman year, when he immediately became a starter at safety. Over the years, he’s worked in at wide receiver, mostly playing out of the slot, and sometimes playing a tight end role. He also could see time this year at linebacker. Offense? Defense? Special teams? It doesn’t really matter to Maloney. All he wants is a chance to play and help the Lions.

“Safety is my position, but this year I’m going to play linebacker a lot more because we lost a lot of good athletes who were seniors,” Maloney said. “I’ll play anywhere I’m needed. Safety is fun. Linebacker is fun. And I’m having a lot of fun playing receiver. I just want to play, if it helps the team, I’ll play anywhere.”

He’s helping the team in other ways, too.

Last year the Lions finished 4-5, not a bad season for the small school, but Maloney wants to make sure the team continues to take steps to improve.

Along with starting quarterback Tolan Stahl, Maloney rounds his team up four days a week at the school. There, they run, lift, work out and put in the work to make sure every player is ready both mentally and physically for football season.

It couldn’t be going any better. “I’m really proud, the turnout has been great,” Maloney said. “Everyone has been coming. I remember doing this when I was younger, looking up to the guys who would hold these. I can’t believe I’m a senior already. But we’re working hard. “Preparation is important in football, but it’s really important for our

in at wide receiver, mostly playing out of the slot, and sometimes playing a tight end role. He also could see time this year at linebacker.

said. “Everyone has been coming. I remember doing this when I was younger, looking up to the guys who would hold these. I can’t believe I’m a senior already. But we’re working hard. important in football, but it’s really important for our

please see MALONEY, page 11

team. We have to be prepared for the season. We work hard in practice, but that’s not enough. You have to work hard during the summer. That’s why we’re out there every weeknight, other than Wednesday. We’re out there trying to become better.”

This year the Lions will rely heavily on Maloney’s ability, as well as leadership.

He will be a captain, and hopes he can inspire people the way the seniors inspired him when he was a starter during his freshman year.

But football isn’t Maloney’s only sport.

A former track athlete, Maloney now competes in unified track, where athletes are partnered with specialneeds athletes and they compete together.

It’s a special activity for Maloney because his close family friend Gerry Gonzalez has Down syndrome, so the activity means a lot to him.

“A few of my friends did it, so I joined and I really like it, everyone has fun with it,” Maloney said. “It’s athletes helping other athletes. Being the person I am, I have fun with it. It’s nice to help people and be kind. But we all have fun.”

Maloney will have a lot of fun if the Lions improve upon last year. After this year, he’s hoping to play col-

MALONEY continued from page 10 lege football, but he’s also contemplating a career in trades, possibly in some type of technology. But before he has to make that call, he’ll be making calls on the Lions defense. “I’m excited, I remember looking up to the seniors who were making the calls and this year I’ll be helping with that,” Maloney said. “I think we’re going to be really good. Offensively, we have a lot of talent. Defensively, I think we’re going needs athletes and they com-

It’s a special activity for Maloney because his close family friend Gerry Gonzalez has Down syndrome, so the to be so good. We’re going to be very good. I’m excited about getting started.” 

“A few of my friends did it, PHOTOS PROVIDED BY SEAN MALONEY

making calls on the Lions defense. to the seniors who were making the calls and this year I’ll be helping with that,” Maloney said. “I think we’re going to be really good. Offensively, we have a lot of talent. Roo ng Done Right e First Time!Roo ng Done Right e First Time!

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