Anthony Rizza: The throwing linebacker

By Mike White | Tuesday, Sept. 29, 9:15 p.m.

Talk about an unusual position combination.

How many quarterbacks have led the WPIAL in passing - and play linebacker on defense? Can you name one. Well, meet Anthony Rizza - the throwing linebacker.

Rizza is a 6-foot-2, 195-pound senior at Seton-LaSalle who leads the WPIAL in passing yardage with 908 in four games. But get this: He also starts at outside linebacker. So far this season, he has been involved in four different touchdown plays. Has thrown for touchdowns, run for touchdowns, returned an interception for a touchdown and returned a fumble for a touchdown.

This is Rizza's first year as a full-time player at linebacker - and he likes it.

"I played it a little bit last year, but more just when we went into a nickel defense for passing situations," Rizza said. "I definitely like it. Scoring two touchdowns helps. I realize not many quarterbacks play linebacker. But it's something I have to do for the team - go stick my head in there and make a tackle or two."

You can see Rizza play both QB and linebacker on live television Thursday night when Seton-LaSalle plays at Sto-Rox on FSN Pittsburgh's Thursday game of the week.

Anthony Rizza                               Paul Jones

Sto-Rox Stadium

Here is something I love about Sto-Rox's stadium: It's right in the middle of a town (McKees Rocks). Right behind the bleachers is a street and houses are on the other side of the street. Thursday night's crowd will be big. Maybe the people in those houses should treat it like Wrigley Field and charge admission to watch the game from the roof of a house. Hey, you never know. Anything can happen in the Rocks.

Maxpreps takes a look back

Mitch Stephens has a great series on Maxpreps.com web site called "Starting Point," where it looks back at the high school days of a well-known athlete today. The stories are quite interesting. A few weeks ago, the story on Drew Brees pointed out he was the second-team QB on his ninth-grade team. Check out this week's Starting Point on Maurice Jones-Drew. Good stuff.