The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
LAKE CATHOLIC QB IS MR. DO-IT-ALL
Malchesky is a leader on offense, defense and he punts for state semifinalist Cougars
Lake Catholic football coach Marty Gibbons probably knew better than to ask the question that was on his mind, but he asked anyway.
The Cougars had j ust finished off a touchdown drive in last week’s Division IV, Region 17 playoff win over Youngstown Ursuline when he approached quarterback/safety Joe Malchesky and asked him if he wanted a break.
Malchesky said he looked at his coach with a blank stare before responding.
“Um, coach,” Malchesky said. “Sorry, but I’m not doing that.”
With that, Malchesky trotted back out on the field to help the Cougars’ defense do its part in a 35-7 shellacking of the Irish, a win that propelled Lake Catholic into the state final four for the first time since 2010.
Malchesky is literally a do-itall player for the Cougars (7-2). He has thrown for 936 yards and 13 touchdowns, while also running for a team-high 1,226 yards and 11 touchdowns.
“I don’t know how many times I pause the film every week and am amazed at what he does.”
— Lake Catholic coach Marty Gibbons, on Joe Malchesky
Instead of resting while Lake’s defense is on the field, Malchesky is a vital part of the Cougars’ defense, collecting 61 tackles, three interceptions, eight pass breakups and a TFL as the last line of defense for Lake as a free safety.
“He’s incredible,” Gibbons said. “It’s hard to put into words. I don’t know how many times I pause the film every week and am amazed at what he does. Not only does he never come off the field, but he gets so mad even if I just suggest it.”
Actually, Malchesky does come off the field now and then. The only special teams unit he’s part of is the punting unit — as he punts — but when the other special teams units are on the field, that’s when he gets his break.
“Yeah, it does get a little tiring,” he said of his game-night regimen, “but it goes back to our offseason. (Strength) coach (Jimmy) King and the others got us ready. We were working ever since last year ended for this. Those workouts help me play physical and not get too tired on game days.”
Malchesky takes a lot of hits on game night. He averages more than 20 carries per game, often taking big hits from opposing teams.
To then turn around and play defense, too?
“I just think there’s something wired differently with him genetically,” Gibbons said. “It’s a rarity. He’s not normal.”
The genetic thing likely comes into play. Malchesky’s father, Mike, was a member of the Lake Catholic state champion football teams in 1991-92. Gibbons said Mike Malchesky still holds Lake Catholic’s all-time leader in interceptions with 18.
“Joe’s probably sick of me busting his chops about that,” Gibbons said with a laugh.
But the younger Malchesky said his father has been a valuable source of inspiration for him.
“His teams were great,” said the younger Malchesky. “That gets brought up a lot. He played safety, too. It’s nice having him to help me and coach me up at safety.”
Malchesky won’t be able to match his father’s interception record, nor the two state championship rings he has. He would love to have a ring of his own, and judging by his offensive productivity, his work on defense and his reluctance — or is it refusal? — to come off the field says he’s willing to do anything to get to that point with his teammates.
Lake Catholic will take the next step toward that goal on Nov. 14 when it faces Bloom-Carroll in a Division IV state semifinal at New Philadelphia’s Woody Hayes Quaker Stadium.
“It’s been an amazing year,” said Malchesky, whose team has won four in a row since a 3-2 start to its season.
Smack-dab in the middle of the season were a pair of canceled games because of the coronavirus.
Yet the Cougars have gathered themselves and are on the cusp of playing for a state title.
“We built off our earlyseason losses,” he said. “We’ve come such a long way as a team. We kept persevering, and we’re not done yet.”