| John(The Legend of Netcong) Giannantonio | |
| School: | Villanova Wildcats |
| Currentposition: | Running back |
| Class: | Graduate |
| Pastschools: |
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| Highschool: | Netcong (NJ) |
| Birth Date: | 1934 |
| Birth Place: | Netcong, New Jersey |
| Height Ft: | 5 |
| Height In: | 7 |
John Giannantonio (born 1934) is a former American football player who set several national high school football records, many which still stand. As a 5feet, 137lb sophomore at the now-defunct Netcong High School in Netcong, New Jersey in 1950, Giannantonio rushed for 4,756 yards and 41 touchdowns over the team's eight-game season.[1] During a game in November that season against Mountain Lakes High School he rushed for 754 yards and nine touchdowns in a 61–0 win.[2] [3] [4] His 594.5 rushing yards per game average, season rushing yards total, and single-game rushing yards against Mountain Lakes remain national high school records as of 2021.[1] [5]
As a junior at Netcong, Giannantonio rushed for 38 touchdowns and had a 514-yard game.[5] He then transferred to Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida as a senior, but due to transfer rules, in order to retain his academic eligibility he did not play on the football team. After high school, he was offered a two-year scholarship to Notre Dame and a four-year scholarship to Villanova. He chose to attend Villanova and played on the varsity football team for three years but was unable to replicate his success from high school.[3] After his playing career, he returned to New Jersey and taught mathematics in the Andover Regional School District at Andover Regional Middle School for 38 years before retiring in 1995.[4] [5]