Mt. Blue’s John Moloney never gets sick of being on the football field – although he might get sick on it.
FARMINGTON – Mt. Blue’s John Moloney doesn’t like to leave the football field. It’s probably in the best interest of his team and his health that he never does.
The senior wide receiver/free safety/punter/kicker loves nothing better than being on the gridiron, so he’s not going to voluntarily step off of it. And he does everything so well, the Mt. Blue coaching staff would be foolish to force him off, even for a quick rest.
“Nothing’s better than competing. Football’s the most competitive sport I’ve ever played,” said Moloney, who also plays basketball and baseball. “It’s a privilege to be at practice nowadays. You’ve gotta love it.”
Moloney and the Cougars earned the privilege to practice one more week with a spot in tonight’s Pine Tree Conference championship game against Skowhegan. If they earn another week and make their first state championship game since 1987, chances are Moloney will be a big reason why.
“I have confidence in everything that kid does,” Parlin said. “I have never seen him, in football or baseball, take one practice off.”
“There was one time in preseason, he was as white as a ghost, and I asked him Are you OK?’ He said, I’m OK,” he added. “His father told me later, that night he had a 103 degree temperature, vomited all night, got up the next morning and was here first thing in the morning. His father said I’m going to call coach Parlin,’ and he said, Don’t you dare. This is football. I’m expected to be there. I will be there.'”
It’s a good thing even an upset stomach doesn’t stop Moloney because he’s unintentionally undertaken a little ritual this year of vomiting during halftime of every game. He also lost his dinner on the field at one point, a little too close to an unlucky defensive back in the wrong place at the wrong time.
“I apologized afterward,” he said.
At least he knows he’s not allergic to the sidelines.
“I’ve got a weak stomach,” he said. “It’s just been this year. It’s happened in basketball before. I get pretty worked up, but I should this year because it means so much to me.”
No, Moloney didn’t have to gross out opponents to make his 26 catches this year. Parlin said he’s one of the smartest and most unselfish receivers he’s ever had.
“Of all the receivers that we’ve had, John probably has the best feel for when he’s open and when he’s not open, and for what patterns he’s getting open on,” he said. “All of the good receivers we’ve had here (believe) they are open every single play. John will come to the sideline and say Coach, this isn’t open, but this will work.’ It’s not Get me the ball’ and it’s not Terrell Owens. It’s This is open.’ That’s why he’s such a good free safety, because he has such a tremendous feel for the game.”
“Coach Parlin does a great job teaching us about going to get the ball, going up to get the ball,” Moloney said. “Me and Arthur (Trask, the Cougars’ other top receiver), you don’t know how many plays we just go up and get it. Mason (Barker, the QB) knows that all he has to do is throw it up and we’ll go get it.”
Moloney can change a game on offense or defense, but what he’d really like to do is win one with his foot.
“We haven’t kicked a field goal yet this year. I’ve been bugging Coach about it every single day,” Moloney said. “I want to kick that game-winning field goal.”
“We may need a field goal tomorrow night,” Parlin said. “Hopefully we won’t, but a field goal may be huge.”
John Moloney will be there to kick it. Just try and stop him.
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