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It's another Monday, which means we have a new Patriot Auto Group Area Athlete of the Week.

This week, we head to Nowata County and feature Ironmen football player Brett Malone.

Malone, who returned to Nowata football in his junior season, has quickly emerged as one of the Ironmen's most dangerous weapons on the defensive side.

Malone said head coach Chance Juby was a big reason for his return.

Malone, a linebacker, was one of the leading tacklers last season. Halfway through his final season in Nowata, he's shown a lot of the same firepower.

As far as the future goes, Malone says he wants to play football at the next level.

Nowata currently sits at 1-4, the Ironmen picked up their first win of the season on Friday over the Caney Valley Trojans, 26-0. Quapaw is next on the schedule, as the Ironmen look for their second district win of the season on the road on Friday night.

Now, with Malone's final season at the midpoint, he talked about a favorite memory from last season's playoff run.

Congrats once again to Brett Malone for being this week's Patriot Auto Group Area Athlete of the Week, powered by Tri County Tech.