On a night when Steve Gleason was being honored, Michael Mauti recalled one of the great moments in Saints history.
And he actually did Gleason, who received the George Halas Award for overcoming adversity before the game, one better.
Not only did Mauti block a punt by Atlanta’s Matt Bosher, but the Mandeville High graduate and the son of former Saints special teams standout Rich Mauti, also recovered the ball in the end zone to give his hometown team a 14-0 lead late in the first quarter of Thursday’s eventual 31-21 victory against the Falcons.
“I don’t think it’s really hit me yet,” said Mauti, who was present for Gleason’s legendary block against the Falcons in the Saints’ 2006 return to the Superdome.