PARK RIDGE — Maine South wide receiver Jonathan Arenas flashed his playmaking ability on Friday, even if it was just a small glimpse.
In the second quarter against the Maine East football team, he broke free on a post pattern through the middle of the defense, hauled in a heave from quarterback Brian Collis and took it 64 yards for a touchdown, untouched.
“It was just a great throw,” Arenas said of the play. “I was able to get in the middle of the field, turn on the jets, catch the ball and just take it for a touchdown.”
Arenas’ catch was just one of the many big plays for the Hawks, who ran away with a 50-6 win over the Blue Demons at Maine East. However, Arenas’ score was the longest touchdown of the night.
“Jon is fluid,” Maine South coach David Inserra said. “We should probably try to get the ball to him a little more, but then again there’s a lot of guys to get the ball to. But he shows what he can do. He can run. He can catch. He’s a smooth player.”
Arenas showed that talent for a short period of time against the Blue Demons. Most of the Hawks’ starters were pulled from the lineup when Maine South built a big lead. Collis was taken out about halfway through the second quarter and other skill-position players rotated in and out for the remainder of the game. The only other catch Arenas had was a 26-yard snag on the right sideline late in the second quarter.
Arenas credited his relationship with Collis as one of his keys to success on the football field. He said the two have gotten extremely close over the five years they’ve played together.
“Me and him are brothers,” Arenas said. “We just have that chemistry.”
On a team full of big playmakers, Arenas is one of the biggest. He’s listed at 6-3 and 170 pounds and he’s only a junior. He uses that size to his advantage on the field. He’s one of those big-bodied receiving types that grabs passes at their highest points. He said playing basketball helped him learn how to do that and he carries the skills he’s gained on the hardwood onto the football field.
“It helps with the vertical, speed and just being able to get low,” Arenas said. “I love both sports and I enjoy being out here.”