The Pillsbury Throwboy

Meet Tony Casamento, a 300-pound high school quarterback.

Tony Casamento was losing weight by the story. First he read in the Times Herald-Record that he weighed 290 pounds. Then he saw on a Web site he was 280.

"I'm like, 'OK, OK, I'm loving this,'" the Ellenville senior laughed.

For good reason. He tipped the scales at 305 a couple days ago in gym class.

That's just where the story would end if not for Casamento suddenly landing the task of quarterbacking Ellenville to the Section 9 Class B championship. He took over for the Class B semifinal last Friday after starter Sebastian Constable had an appendectomy two days earlier. Casamento smoothly led Ellenville to a 56-13 win over Millbrook.

Now he will try to lead Ellenville to the sectional title over Sullivan West on Saturday.

"People laughed at me when I said he's a quarterback in a lineman's body,'' said Ellenville coach Tony Borriello. "But he really is. It's unfortunate that God gives us certain things, but you gotta deal with it.''

Casamento was given a slow metabolism, doctors told him, so he was always a big kid.

"I'd go on diets for one week and the next week put it all back on,'' he said at practice Thursday, wearing the quarterback's red jersey mandating defenders not touch him. "I love food. That's what it's all about for me.''

Thanks to Hot Air for the link.