Rizzolo Lays it on 'Line' for Watchung Hills

Facing a top notch program like Immaculata High of Somerville last Friday wasn't easy for Watchung Hills Regional High School two-way lineman Anthony Rizzolo. But it was no tougher than the competition he faced every day during the summer.

"I would work with my brother and rush against him," the Warrior junior said of his older brother Jimmy who plays for Fairleigh Dickinson-Madison. "I figure that if I could do OK against a college offensive lineman, I should be OK against high school competition."

Indeed, the 6-foot-1, 300-pound Rizzolo has more than done OK this season, excelling on both the offensive line as a center and on the defensive line as a tackle.

Rizzolo and his teammates will be back in action Thursday at 4 p.m. when Watchung Hills hosts Linden.

"When you play Immaculata, you know you are playing a great football team but we were able to go in there and not take anything from them," said Rizzolo, who led a defense that gave up just one touchdown in a 12-0 loss to the undefeated Spartans. "They're Immaculata and we're just Watchung Hills but I thought we played our best game of the season. I feel I played a good game. I thought we all did well. It could have gone a different way."

Instead, the Warriors will take an 0-4 record into the game against Linden, which was winless until beating Warren Hills, 35-0, Saturday.

"After the game Friday, we were all down," Rizzolo said. "But we're confident in the way we can play. We're trying to make the playoffs. The home opener didn't go the way we wanted it to. It was 0-0 at halftime and then we blew it (a 21-0 loss to Westfield). This game will be right after school so I think there will be a big turnout. We're looking forward to playing them after they beat us 50-7 last year."

While the Warriors struggled last year, Rizzolo started to make a mark for himself as a sophomore. After the season, he was an honorable mention selection for the Mid-State 39 Conference.

"I thought I had a good season and it made me work harder for this season so I could earn recognition in the conference and the area," Rizzolo said. "We have an intense strength and conditioning program. We all get after it and it has helped us."

Like many bigger high school linemen, Rizzolo never got to play Pop Warner football beacuse of his size. Pop Warner generally has weight restrictions.

"I never got to play until the Junior Warrior program started while I was in fifth grade," said Rizzolo, who says he actually tips the scales at 288. "In fact, this is my seventh year together with Tom (Giaimo) being the quarterback and me being the center.

"But even before I was able to play, we were always a football family," he added. "My father is a Dallas Cowboys fan and I'm a Seattle Seahawks fan, which is another story. Whenever my brother comes home, we'll try to catch a Rutgers game. I'd love to see him play but we are usually watching film when he plays on Saturdays. Maybe this week since we are playing on Thursday."

While Rizzolo continues to be the biggest player in virtually every game he plays, he has come to understand that there is more to the game than size.

"When you first start, you do well just because you are bigger," Rizzolo said. "That's even true in freshman football. But then you get to varsity and everyone is about the same size so you have to rely more on technique. I've improved my technique, especially on the pass rush."

Rizzolo has also shown a surprising knack for coming up with interceptions, leading the team with two after recording one apiece against Westfield and Immaculata.

"The guys have been giving me a hard time about it," Rizzolo said with a laugh. "They say I have 'lineman hands.' The first one was a screen over the middle that I saw coming. The second was the first play of the game against Immaculata. He went to throw it, it hit off (junior linebacker) Charlie Perruso and popped into the air. I was chasing the quarterback so I just stopped and caught it."

Rizzolo and his teammates are hoping to come up with more big plays ... and their first victory ... when they host Linden Thursday.