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Dooley directs Springside Chestnut Hill to 3-0 start

Paul Dooley went all-out in preparing for his senior year of football at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy. The strong-armed quarterback skipped playing basketball last winter to improve his skills, worked regularly with a personal trainer, and attended a number of showcase camps.

Paul Dooley went all-out in preparing for his senior year of football at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy.

The strong-armed quarterback skipped playing basketball last winter to improve his skills, worked regularly with a personal trainer, and attended a number of showcase camps.

Reaping the dividends of his offseason preparation, Dooley, a second-year starter under center, has directed the Blue Devils to a 3-0 start.

In the rain Saturday afternoon, the 6-foot, 202-pound captain threw a pair of touchdown passes and ran for two more in a 31-14 nonleague triumph over visiting Mastery North Charter.

In a hurry-up spread attack, Dooley hooked up with wideouts Jordan Johnson and Matt Rahill for TDs. Because of the rain, the hosts mostly kept the ball on the ground.

"I like the spread," Dooley said. "It wears defenses down. And Coach [Rick] Knox allows me to sometimes switch up the plays he calls from the sideline."

In 10 games last season, Dooley completed 108 of 214 passes for 1,625 yards and 22 TDs as SCH went 5-5 overall and 1-4 in the Inter-Ac League.

This year, most expect defending cochampions Malvern Prep and the Haverford School, with Episcopal Academy possibly in the mix, to challenge for top league honors.

"We beat Haverford [by 24-21] last year, so that shows anything can happen," said Dooley, also an outside linebacker or safety. "I don't think people should count us out."

Dooley and fellow senior Dylan Parsons, a 6-1, 175-pound wideout, make up one of the area's most feared pass-catch duos.

"He's got crazy-good hands," Dooley said. "He can dunk the ball in basketball. So he can really get up on a back shoulder fade in the end zone."

Growing up near Torresdale Avenue and Vista Street, Dooley played youth football for Holmesburg. After moving to Fox Chase, near Rhawn and Verree, he competed in CYO ball for St. William.

The decision to attend SCH wasn't an easy one. His father, Paul, and uncles, Tom and Rich, played football at Father Judge. "Pretty much everyone wanted me to go there," the quarterback said with a laugh.

Judge also happens to be SCH's next opponent (7 p.m. Saturday at Northeast). Last year, the Blue Devils, with a fingernail on Dooley's throwing hand ripped off by a defender in the early going, bowed to the Crusaders, 35-0.

Dooley, 18, took part in one-day camps at Lafayette, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Richmond, and Temple. Delaware and Villanova are among the locals who have made inquiries.

"I guess some schools question my height," he said. "But I'm confident that, in the right scheme, I could be effective."

Trivia time. Dooley's uncle, Tom, played linebacker for Judge in the 1980s. In 1988, when he and the Crusaders beat Lincoln by 10-7 in the annual Turkey Bowl, who was Judge's QB and which Crusader was named most valuable player?

The first to e-mail the correct answer to the e-mail address below will win a $25 gift card to Modell's Sporting Goods and a Rally gift pack, including a T-shirt.

Extra points. In Plymouth Whitemarsh's 35-6 nonleague win Saturday over host Norristown, linebackers Matt Melusky (six solos) and Jake Winterbottom (five) each registered seven tackles. Tackle Joe DeSanto posted a third-quarter sack. PW offensive lineman Steve Kovacic sat out with a knee injury but is expected back against Upper Merion in Week 4. For Norristown, free safety Derik Cross registered a team-high eight tackles, with four solos. Strong safety Justin Byrd (five solos), linebacker Isaiah Samuel (four), and end Darryl Carr (five) each added seven tackles apiece. . . . Northeast senior wide receiver Clayton Rush picked up a scholarship offer, his first, from Lafayette. . . . In Pennsbury's 57-20 romp Friday over Council Rock North, linebackers Luke Snyder (four solos) and Jordan O'Neill (three) made six and five tackles, respectively. Snyder, a junior, also had a first-quarter interception and second-quarter hurry. For C.R. North, end Thomas Hewitt notched six tackles, with four solos. He had a third-quarter sack.