Maloney football's Donte Kelly excels in Class L spotlight after season on sidelines

When Maloney’s Donte Kelly isn’t catching passes, he’s making tackles or coming down with interceptions. There’s also the key moments on punt returns — he’s returned two for touchdowns in two playoff games so far. So does he ever come off the field? “Only if I ask for a break,” Kelly said. “But that’s never.” Kelly, a junior, wants to get every minute he can on the field, and there’s a very good reason behind that. After transferring to Maloney from Platt last season, he needed to sit out the season per CIAC rules. He still practiced hard throughout the season, something Maloney coach Kevin Frederick said is a testament to Kelly’s drive and selflessness, but at the end of each week, he wasn’t on the field as the Spartans went 12-1 and won the program’s first state championship. “Last year, it hurt me so bad,” Kelly said. “But it also made me think about (this) year and how I had to prove myself and do what’s best for the team. I kept with the team even though I didn’t play.” “It’s a tribute to his character,” Frederick said. “A lot of kids, if they couldn’t play in any games, they probably wouldn’t have practiced or they would’ve just gone through the motions, but it was the exact opposite for Donte. He practiced every day like it was a game.” Kelly and the Spartans are now reaping the benefits. Kelly’s 79-yard punt return with 4:04 remaining put Maloney ahead for good in an eventual 28-14 win over Shelton in the CIAC Class L semifinals on Sunday. The third-seeded Spartans (11-1) will face No. 4 New Canaan (11-1) in the final Saturday at 2 p.m. at Central Connecticut State’s Arute Field. “We’ve got a lot of people on our side and a lot of motivation to keep us going,” Kelly said. “My teammates, we motivate each other, we’re there for each other, and it’s always positive energy towards each other.” It’s the latest of several big games for Maloney, which has won 23 of its last 24 games since a week one loss to Southington in 2021. The Spartans defeated Windsor 35-21 in last year’s Class L final, and have several wins this year, beating defending Class LL champion Darien, Southington in a battle of No. 1 vs. No. 2, and then New Milford and Shelton in the playoffs. “A lot of them played in that state championship game (last year), so I’m not worried about the spotlight being too bright,” Frederick said. “Enjoy the moment, have fun, and soak everything in with your teammates. These are life memories that these kids are making and these experiences are exceptional.” While Kelly wasn’t in the game for the state final, he was still a key cog, as he played the part of an opposing player, such as Bristol Central’s Victor Rosa, in a scout-team role last year. “He did that every week,” Frederick said. “We were getting such great looks because of him and his selflessness to come to practice every day and do that, knowing that he wasn’t going to get rewarded on Friday night. As a coach, that’s uplifting and it shows his character.” Now on the field, Kelly has been spectacular in the Class L playoffs. He returned punts for touchdowns to put the Spartans ahead in both games, and has three interceptions, including two in the quarterfinal game, when he also had five receptions for 65 yards. For the season, Kelly has 40 receptions for 565 yards and nine TDs, with 33 tackles, three tackles for a loss, and five interceptions, including one pick six. “When we need big plays, he’s the guy who’s been coming through for us,” Frederick said. “It’s nice to have someone adjacent to (senior) Joziah Gonzalez and those two guys are the most dynamic duo for receivers in the state of Connecticut. They’re electrifying with their speed and their ball skills and they’re game-breakers.” In the semifinals, Maloney trailed Shelton 14-7 in the fourth quarter before Gonzalez tied the score on a one-yard run with 6:44 remaining. Minutes later, Kelly broke loose on a punt return to put the Spartans ahead. “I saw Marquis Ward had a block and I knew if I could get around that block, I knew I could score,” Kelly said. “I saw my whole team waiting for me on the other side and I used my speed to get outside.” The results have been satisfying for Frederick, who has seen a player who worked behind the scenes last year step into the spotlight and thrive this season. “It makes me feel really good for him because he’s taking care of things in the classroom as well,” Frederick said. “He’s putting himself on the map as far as his future and his education. I’m just so happy for him and the opportunities that are going to come to him.” As for the task at hand, Kelly and the Spartans are looking for more big moments in the final. “We want this so bad,” Kelly said. “We’re willing to work hard and do anything to get it done. We’ve been talking about this and working for it all season. This is what we want and this is what we’ve played for.” David.Stewart@hearstmediact.com; @dstewartsports

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