When Anthony Giagunto was a freshman, St. Joseph needed a long snapper.
"I said, 'I'll try it,' " Giagunto said. "I just bent over and threw it between my legs like I was throwing a pass."
The incident showed two things about Giagunto: his team-first attitude, and his football talent.
Now a senior, Giagunto does a bit of everything for St. Joseph. He's 5-foot-8 (maybe) and 170 pounds (possibly), but he stands as tall as any player in South Jersey when it comes to winning football games.
"If he was 6-foot, he could go anywhere he wanted," St. Joseph coach Paul Sacco said. "I still think he's one of the best players in South Jersey."
Giagunto became St. Joseph's starting quarterback four games into his sophomore season. All he has done is go 17-0, win two state titles, and throw 14 touchdown passes without an interception.
"I don't think about my stats," Giagunto said. "All I care about is whether we win."
Giagunto also is a top defensive back, as well as the Wildcats' punt returner and holder on placekicks.
"Whatever the team needs, I'll do it," Giagunto said. "It's totally a team sport."
Because of his experience and success, Giagunto is a senior leader for a team that will face a major challenge this season in the realigned Cape-Atlantic American Division. The Wildcats also are prohibitive favorites to win the Non-Public 1 state title.
"He plays with a chip on his shoulder," St. Joseph senior lineman Charles Cade said. "The thing about Ant is that he might not be that big and he might not even be that fast, but there's not a person out there that's going to outwork him."
- Phil Anastasia
