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Senior Paddock makes ‘big’ impact

Trent Paddock breaks through and scores for Hollidaysburg.

HOLLIDAYSBURG — At 6-foot-6 and 225 pounds, Trenton Paddock looks like he’d make a fine high school basketball center or power forward.

He doesn’t play hoops, though.

Rugby is his game.

And, Friday night, in Hollidaysburg’s 35-21 season-opening win over Altoona, Paddock looked like a promising football tailback, too.

He had a few problems catching kickoffs, but no problem running over defenders once he had the ball in tow.

The big senior rushed for 103 yards on 12 carries and caught two passes for 49 yards. He also scored three touchdowns, the first on a 30-yard pass from Bryce Martellacci in the opening quarter and later on runs of 10 and 20 yards. His third TD gave the Golden Tigers a 35-7 lead at the half.

After hurting itself with first-half fumbles and penalties, Altoona made it a game in the second half before falling, 35-21.

Actually, Paddock moved into the starting tailback position because Hunter Barr, the regular, was sidelined with a leg injury. Paddock was mainly a jayvee player until this season.

“We had a great team last year,” Paddock said. “We had a lot of running backs, and they needed me on the jayvee squad. I was able to give them some wins and help out the team.

“This year I was kind of the second-string running back to Hunter Barr,” Paddock said. “He got hurt in preseason practice, so they needed someone to step up, and I thought that would be me.

“I came out here, helped the team and was able to get a win.”

Tiger coach Homer DeLattre praised Paddock’s effort.

“Trent’s been a very good player for us the last two years,” DeLattre said. “He had a great jayvee season as a running back. He’s big and strong and fast. He’s a really big dude and did a really good job tonight. We got him in space, which was what we wanted to do.”

Martellacci, who is succeeding Brady Walters, a standout at QB the last two seasons, impressed his coach, too.

“Very impressive,” DeLattre said. “I knew he would be. He’s a smart kid and great athlete. We ask him to do a lot of things in this offense and he didn’t miss a beat out there.”

Paddock noted that the Tigers beat Altoona last year, but he figured Friday would be tough anyway.

“I prepared myself mentally and wanted to have some fun,” he said. “And we got the win.”

Many high schoolers probably wouldn’t have played jayvee ball until their senior year, but Paddock said it didn’t faze him.

“I figure when one man goes down, they need another,” he said. “And I can’t argue with the coaches. If they want to sit me, they can, but I’m here to make the team better, and I’m here for whenever they need me.”

They definitely needed him Friday night.

And, what about basketball? Is it in the future, too?

“I’m not very good at basketball,” Paddock said. “I used to play for about three or four years — in the movies, you could say. I find football and rugby more my sports.”

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