Through each regular-season football game this fall, Jon Malatesta was a consistent and productive pass-catching and touchdown-scoring wide receiver for the Washington-Liberty Generals.
In recognition of his achievements, the senior recently was chosen as the Liberty District’s Offensive Player of the year for the 2024 high-school season.
Malatesta helped the Generals to a 10-0 record, a second-straight district championship and a No. 2 seed in the eight-team 6D North Region tournament.
“He has made plays for us all season, right from the start,” W-L coach Josh Shapiro said.
Yorktown Patriots head coach Bruce Hanson pointed out how the elusive 6-foot, 180-pound Malatesta was most dangerous by breaking big plays and gaining a lot of yards after catching a pass. Malatesta caught six passes and scored a touchdown in the Generals’ blowout win over Yorktown.
In the 10 regular-season games, Malatesta caught 55 passes for 786 yards, scoring 17 touchdowns. He also had 156 yards in kick returns.
Malatesta’s most productive game was having 11 catches for 107 yards and three touchdowns in game eight against the McLean Highlanders. He had 10 catches for 98 yards and four TDs in his next contest, then capped the regular season with five receptions for 185 yards and a score against the Wakefield Warriors.
Malatesta caught at least two passes in each regular-season contest, and scored touchdowns in nine. He began the season with four catches for 117 yards and two TDs in Washington-Liberty’s season opener.
Generals’ starting quarterback Matthew Abramson, who threw the majority of the passes to Malatesta, was chosen first-team all-district.
Malatesta also is a standout lacrosse player for Washington-Liberty. He aims to attend the U.S. Naval Academy.
Check back a future story for details about other all-Liberty District football selections of players from Arlington’s three schools, including co-Defensive Player of the Year Ben Hughes of Washington-Liberty.
