TONY COLAIZZI

SCHOOL: Central Catholic.

	Matt Freed, Post-Gazette Tony Colaizzi: After one of his three INTs vs. Erie McDowell. Click photo for larger image.

WHO IS HE? A 5-foot-10, 175-pound receiver/cornerback for the football team.

THE PAST WEEK: A senior, Colaizzi intercepted three passes Friday night as the Vikings crushed Erie McDowell, 44-3, in the PIAA Class AAAA quarterfinals.

"The defensive line was getting a good rush and we were sending guys on blitzes," Colaizzi said. "They were putting it where I could get it."

Central Catholic (14-0) will play Bishop McDevitt (10-2) in the semifinals at 1 p.m. Saturday at Mansion Park Stadium, Altoona.

SEASON: Colaizzi also had an interception in the WPIAL championship game one week earlier, in a 28-0 victory against Gateway. He has nine this year, to go with 15 receptions for 250 yards and five touchdowns. Colaizzi has started on defense for two years, on offense for one.

STANDOUT ON CORNER: Rick Capretta has been a Central Catholic assistant for 15 years, and currently coaches the secondary. Without pause, he calls Colaizzi "probably the best defensive back this place has had."

Capretta added that the Vikings' other cornerback, Dion Germany (6-1, 190 pounds), "is almost as good" and enhances Colaizzi's play by his presence.

"Teams don't like to throw at Dion because of his size," Capretta said. "But if they throw at Tony, they get burned. He has big-time feet, which a corner needs. He can cover, he can tackle and he has the instincts you can't coach.

"We feel Tony can match up with any receiver in the state."

BASKET MAKER: Football wasn't always Colaizzi's No. 1 athletic priority. He quit that sport after sixth grade.

"Basketball was definitely my top sport then," said Colaizzi, of West Homestead. "I wasn't thinking of playing football again. Then when I got to ninth grade [at Central Catholic], I thought I'd try it."

Colaizzi also played basketball as a freshman, then stopped to focus on football. He went out for track for the first time in the spring, hoping to increase his speed, and helped the Vikings' 400-meter relay team qualify for the PIAA championships.

FUTURE: Colaizzi said he wants to play college football.