Benet wide receiver Pat Pitello isn’t going to intimidate defenders with his physique.

The 6-foot, 145-pound senior is going to catch a lot of passes, though, and some of those receptions will end up being touchdowns.

Before the season started, Benet coach Pat New spread the word about Pitello to some of his new assistants.

“We have a new offensive coordinator this year (Craig Harman), and I told him all the guy does is score touchdowns,” New said of Pitello. “He’s one of those kids where you throw him the ball, and he finds a way into the end zone.

“He’s continued that, which has been great.”

Indeed, Pitello scored two touchdowns in each of Benet’s first two games this season. The scoring streak came to an end Friday, but Pitello still impressed, catching a game-high 10 passes for 99 yards in the Redwings’ 34-9 loss to defending Class 3A state champion IC Catholic at Benedictine University.

Six of Pitello’s catches were for first downs.

“Our energy was there,” he said. “In the first half, it kind of faded away, but I think in the second half we did a good job of coming back.

“Down the road, we’ll keep trying and having heart.”

Heart is a big part of Pitello’s game. Despite his small stature, he has a knack for getting open and is a quintessential possession receiver, someone who isn’t afraid of taking a hard hit while hanging onto the ball.

“He’s all heart,” Benet junior quarterback Ryan Kubacki Jr. said. “He’s a gamer. He’s not going to give up. He’ll play to the whistle.”

That’s exactly what Pitello did against the Knights (3-0), who jumped out to a 34-0 lead. He had three receptions, including gains of 18 yards and 17 yards, during a 75-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter that Kubacki capped with a 6-yard run. Those were the only points Benet (2-1) scored on offense.

“I love catching the ball,” Pitello said. “I love scoring touchdowns. It’s just fun.”

This is the first season Kubacki and Pitello have played together on varsity, but they’ve been teammates for years, first in middle school and again in 2021, when they played on the sophomore team.

Pitello and the 5-8 Kubacki have developed a rapport.

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“I’d say it’s practice,” Pitello said. “Even when we don’t have practice, we work out before practice and after practice. I just try to do my best at all times, try to find open areas, trust my quarterback and get the job done.”

That has endeared him to New, who likes Pitello’s grit and determination.

“He’s really skinny,” New said. “Man, he doesn’t look like much, but he plays big. He’s a tough kid too.”

Pitello is a three-sport varsity athlete. He plays guard on Benet’s boys basketball team and center field on the baseball team, but football is his first love and the sport he thinks is his best.

Pitello hopes to play football in college but doesn’t have any offers yet. His success can be an inspiration to younger players looking for proof that you don’t have to be built like a bodybuilder to make an impact in the sport.

“I’d say be yourself and believe that you can do it,” Pitello said. “Work at it and just enjoy the game.”

Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.