Leyden's Maldonado now puts fear in defenses

Angel Maldonado's eyes displayed a clear message last week.

Actually, it came from what the Leyden senior running back wore just under them. Two strips of eye black with the words "Fear Me."

Fear is not something one will see in Maldonado's eyes. Not last week after the program's first playoff victory in 11 years at Palatine.

And there won't be any at 5 p.m. Saturday when the 8-2 Eagles host unbeaten defending Class 8A state champion Maine South in Northlake.

"I don't believe in fear," said the powerful 5-foot-9, 220-pound running back who has piled up 2,241 yards and 25 touchdowns on 287 carries.

"His attitude is kind of a good thing for the school," said Leyden coach Tom Cerasani. "He's not intimidated by any opponent.

"That's the attitude that wasn't here before. I think he's done a lot in bringing a winning attitude to this place."

Maldonado has kept Leyden statistician and historian extraordinaire Jack Gregg busy this year by rewriting the program's record book. His 3,799 yards and counting left the career mark of Jermaine Shaw in the dust and he has the top three single-game marks with a high of 312.

But one of the biggest keys to Maldonado's monster year has been losing the attitude that caused others to fear him for all the wrong reasons.

The numbers last season weren't too shabby with 1,232 yards. But Maldonado doesn't look back on it fondly.

"I just wasn't under control," he said. "I was pretty unfocused and it wasn't a good year.

"I've grown and matured and I'm playing the game a lot smarter. It was something I've had to do for us to succeed."

As well as being smarter off the field. Maldonado is now worrying about fights for extra yards instead of those which gave Cerasani and his staff extra-strength headaches.

"I got in a lot of fights when I was younger and even in high school," Maldonado said. "I've been through a lot in high school and I came close to not playing football because of it."

And if that had happened?

"I don't think I'd be in high school," Maldonado said. "Because of my mentality I would have been kicked out a long time ago. Football really helped me."

Cerasani and his coaches started to see a turnaround in the offseason when Maldonado became a leader in the weightroom. He had showed plenty of promise as a freshman and was the blocking back as a sophomore for 1,400-yard rusher Josh Serrano on a playoff qualifier.

But Maldonado, whose dad Angelo played at Oak Park-River Forest, knew it was time to provide some stability to a talented team with high expectations.

"I have to be a leader for this team," Maldonado said. "I have to calm people down and help people.

"I can't be losing my cool because if they see me lose my cool, they're going to lose it."

Maldonado's preseason goal of 1,500 yards turned out to be pretty modest. And he knows a lot of credit goes to his veteran line of seniors Jason Borntraeger, James Flosi, Art Napier, Max Schammert and Dan Kiebler and junior Elmer Guzman.

"They don't make mistakes," Maldonado said.

Maldonado doesn't make many, either, with a running style where he's usually sideswiping defenders. He's played at the same intensity whether it's a playoff game or midseason practice.

"Angel plays with a chip on his shoulder," Cerasani said.

He'll definitely have it for Maine South and highly acclaimed Indiana-bound running back Matt Perez.

"I feel I don't get enough respect," Maldonado said. "I know there are good running backs out there but I feel no one gives me credit. I feel I'm better than some of the running backs out there."

The best part for Maldonado is he has given himself the chance to prove it this year.

mmaciaszek@dailyherald.com