Moore Catholic (N.Y) athlete Matthias Lighten interest increases in Army

Matthias Lighten’s recruiting highlight reel should have three straight plays from one game last October.

Lighten, a junior from Staten Island’s Moore Catholic, made a sensational catch for a 34-yard gain, scored on a direct snap from four yards out and caught the two-point conversion.

Plays like that have Lighten on Army’s radar. Lighten received an offer from coach Jeff Monken and the Black Knights during a visit last Thursday (April 13).

“The visit was amazing,” said Lighten, who is from Plainfield, N.J. “I loved the atmosphere of the coaches and the campus. I learned some things from taking this visit and so I will definitely be back up.”

Lighten isn’t wasting much time to take his next visit to West Point. He plans on attending Army’s Black and Gold spring game at Michie Stadium.

Army is recruiting the 6-foot, 180 pound Lighten as an athlete. Lighten plays defensive back, wide receiver and returns kicks and punts for Moore Catholic. Lighten’s first Division I offer came from Temple in May 2022. Toledo and UMass have also offered Lighten. He’s visited Rutgers, Boston College and Maryland this spring.

“I’m very grateful that they (Army coaches) have offered me,” Lighten said.