Given the chance, slotback Maloy a bright spot for Mids

Junior’s ability on display in loss to Houston with first career touchdown

Täzh Maloy is the quintessential slotback to slotbacks coach Joe DuPaix, and not because of his stats, of which he still has few.

His character has always stood out. The difference now is that, in Maloy’s first career start, every Navy fan could see it.

When the ball was in the junior’s hands, he was slippery, hardly stoppable, logging his first career touchdown from 32 yards out to hand the Mids a 10-point lead midway through the second quarter.

“Täzh is a phenomenal person, first and foremost. Super unselfish, willing to do anything that we ask him to do,” DuPaix said. “Stepped up big time today on the frontside when he was asked to block and on the backside when he was asked to be the pitch back.” To Maloy, it was nothing. “The start wasn’t that big of a deal, the touchdown either,” he said. “I did what I could to help the team.

“It just felt good to finally contribute and show it on the board.”

A week ago, no one was sure Maloy would even be on the field at the top of the first quarter on Saturday.

After the Mids’ loss to Temple, head coach Ken Niumatalolo put his faith mostly in Malcolm Perry in the role over his teammates who lacked game experience.

Maloy filled in for CJ Williams, whose upper body injury kept the sophomore sidelined during Saturday’s tilt, and was a second string to Tre Walker, who’s still recovering from reconstructive knee surgery last year and has had his time limited.

The visiting Houston Cougars defeated the Navy Midshipmen, 49-36, in NCAA football Saturday at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. (Paul W. Gillespie) But Maloy proved invaluable. “He’s one of our better all-around players. He can block,” Niumatalolo said. “He’s a tough, physical runner — good hands. I was proud of the way he played.”

The Pflugerville, Texas, product more than doubled his college yardage against the Cougars. Before Saturday, Maloy had just 11 carries for 50 yards this fall. He’d only just posted his first career catch against Temple last week.

Against Houston, though, the junior carried eight times for 57 yards with one touchdown, trailing only Perry as the Mids’ rushing leaders.

An athlete of all seasons at Hendrickson High, Maloy, at 5-foot-7, was somewhat small for his position. Nonetheless, he gained 1,246 yards on 210 carries in his senior year and was named the 13-6a Offensive MVP. He went on to attend the Naval Academy Preparatory School.

But it would be another two years before Maloy would even see on-field action with the Mids, and it’d be sparse at that. Even this season, though he’d made an appearance every weekend, he’d be handed the ball no more than five times a game — his previous career high was just that, at Memphis, where he’d accumulated just seven yards.

“And that’s part of that position,” DuPaix said. “It’s a position that’s built on being unselfish, and that’s something that Täzh brings to the table each and every time he plays football.”

On Saturday, though, the powers that be conspired in Maloy’s favor. When the Mids needed him, the junior actually had the chance to come through.

As a senior at Hendrickson High, Maloy piled up gold medals in track-and-field in long jump and other relays. That kind of quick-footed leaping and weaving showed when Maloy hustled from the 32-yard line, dodging the Houston defense to making the touchdown.

“Täzh has speed,” DuPaix said. “He’s super athletic and has a great vertical, which is an indicator of athleticism and explosiveness.”

Maloy was mostly absent from Navy’s offensive crew in the second half, which fizzled, allowing the Cougars to win, 49-36. But DuPaix foresees a future that employs Maloy more and more.

“I have no question that he’ll continue to make plays with us. I’m not concerned when the ball’s in his hands,” DuPaix said. “Whether the ball’s in Malcolm’s hands, Täzh’s hands, CJ’s hands, Tre’s hands — we feel really good about any of those options.” SDCCU Stadium, San Diego Saturday, 8 p.m. TV: Chs. 13, 9 Radio: 1090 AM Line: Notre Dame by 22