Submitted by SCAFoundation on Thu, 09/25/2014 - 8:52am

Anthony CortazzoMONTVALE, NJ--Anthony Cortazzo doesn’t have to play football. There are probably a lot of people in the world who think he shouldn’t play.

But the 18-year-old from Montvale has made the decision to play. When asked why, his answer is clear and strong.

"I fell in love with football when I first started playing it in third grade," said Cortazzo, a Pascack Hills senior. "I remember my first practice. My dad took me. I remember playing for the Mustangs and coming off the field for the first water break. I remember that all so vividly in my mind. I loved it."

Cortazzo said this Monday, standing on the same field where he practiced that day in third grade, and where, almost exactly six months ago, he collapsed during track practice. Thanks to the work of an alert trainer, Steve Papa, Cortazzo’s heart was shocked back into rhythm by an AED (automated external defibrillator).

Upon further examination, Cortazzo was found to have an anomalous aortic origin of the coronary artery. His heart’s plumbing was a little off-kilter. He had surgery to correct the problem.

He has been cleared by his doctors to resume full-contact football practice on Thursday – six months to the day of his surgery. He could play in the Cowboys’ upcoming games against Sussex Tech on Saturday or Dwight Morrow on Oct. 2, but will likely not see his first live action until Oct. 10 when the Cowboys host Ridgefield Park.

"I’m looking forward to it," Cortazzo said with a smile.

"We need Anthony," said Pascack Hills coach Brooks Alexander, "but not as badly as he needs football right now."

Cortazzo has been working with Papa on his conditioning since August. Before his heart defect was diagnosed, he’d always felt a little short of breath after physical exertion. He said he can feel the difference. His weight, which was once down to 180 pounds is now 200, and looks solid on his 5-foot-10 frame.

Last week, he wore full pads to practice for the first time, and Monday, he looked comfortable getting into his stance and firing out hitting a sled and a tackling dummy. But he hasn’t hit anything that hits back yet.

"The doctors are saying that he is better now than he was before," Pascack Hills athletic director Phil Paspalas said.

"So how can you [keep him from playing]? We have no reason to get in the way. He can’t wait to get back out on the field."

Alexander has welcomed Cortazzo back with open arms. He’s tagged him with the nickname "Lazarus" and teases him about "milking his heart thing."

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SOURCE: NorthJersey.com