Geri Aliaj leads way for Rebels

When Ridgewood junior quarterback Geri Aliaj is not on the field throwing touchdown passes for the Rebels, he is more than likely working out in the gym or doing something involving sports.

“Outside of football, I love to work out (as well as) play Madden,” Aliaj said. “I (also) love watching sports, especially football, basketball and hockey.”

On Friday, Ridgewood took on Metro Suburban Conference foe Riverside-Brookfield and fell to the Bulldogs 34-28. The Rebels were led by Aliaj, who threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns.

Aliaj says he wants to study to become a sports writer in college.

“I would like to be involved with anything that has to do with sports, preferably a sports reporter (because) I would like to interview big name athletes,” said Aliaj.

Aliaj is a first-year varsity player, but he doesn’t act like it, head coach Chris Zack said.

“Geri is a competitor,” Zack said. “He wants to win and hates when he makes mistakes, and when he does, he doesn’t put his head down, and he keeps working at it.”

In the offseason, Zack was not sure who his quarterback was going to be in the fall with senior Joe Jacobsen graduating. But Aliaj made an impression on Zack during class one day.

“I had him in my class last year and (at that point) we were not sure if he was going to be a starter or not, but he came up to me one day and told me, ‘I’m going to be your starting quarterback.’ ”

After an offseason competition, Aliaj earned the starting nod.

“The thing that impresses me most about him is his work ethic,” wide receiver Mike Achramowicz said. “If somebody is being lazy (in the weight room), he is the one to fire the rest of the team up. He is as dedicated as I am and without him I wouldn’t be successful at all.”

Next up, Aliaj and the Rebels return home to take on MSC foe Fenton on Friday night in Norridge.

When Ridgewood junior quarterback Geri Aliaj is not on the field throwing touchdown passes for the Rebels, he is more than likely working out in the gym or doing something involving sports.

“Outside of football, I love to work out (as well as) play Madden,” Aliaj said. “I (also) love watching sports, especially football, basketball and hockey.”

On Friday, Ridgewood took on Metro Suburban Conference foe Riverside-Brookfield and fell to the Bulldogs 34-28. The Rebels were led by Aliaj, who threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns.

Aliaj says he wants to study to become a sports writer in college.

“I would like to be involved with anything that has to do with sports, preferably a sports reporter (because) I would like to interview big name athletes,” said Aliaj.

Aliaj is a first-year varsity player, but he doesn’t act like it, head coach Chris Zack said.

“Geri is a competitor,” Zack said. “He wants to win and hates when he makes mistakes, and when he does, he doesn’t put his head down, and he keeps working at it.”

In the offseason, Zack was not sure who his quarterback was going to be in the fall with senior Joe Jacobsen graduating. But Aliaj made an impression on Zack during class one day.

“I had him in my class last year and (at that point) we were not sure if he was going to be a starter or not, but he came up to me one day and told me, ‘I’m going to be your starting quarterback.’ ”

After an offseason competition, Aliaj earned the starting nod.

“The thing that impresses me most about him is his work ethic,” wide receiver Mike Achramowicz said. “If somebody is being lazy (in the weight room), he is the one to fire the rest of the team up. He is as dedicated as I am and without him I wouldn’t be successful at all.”

Next up, Aliaj and the Rebels return home to take on MSC foe Fenton on Friday night in Norridge.