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Bruising running game carries Wood to another title

Archbishop Wood captured its seventh consecutive PIAA District 12 Class AAA championship Saturday by holding off never-say-die Imhotep Charter. Speedy tailback Jarrett McClenton and bruising fullback Alex Arcangeli served as a solid one-two punch, combining for 261 rushing yards and five touchdowns in a 42-34 victory at Northeast's Charles Martin Memorial Stadium.

The bodies are piled high, but somewhere on the bottom is Wood quarterback Anthony Russo, who scored a two-point conversion in the first half vs. Imhotep.
The bodies are piled high, but somewhere on the bottom is Wood quarterback Anthony Russo, who scored a two-point conversion in the first half vs. Imhotep.Read moreED HILLE / Staff

Archbishop Wood captured its seventh consecutive PIAA District 12 Class AAA championship Saturday by holding off never-say-die Imhotep Charter.

Speedy tailback Jarrett McClenton and bruising fullback Alex Arcangeli served as a solid one-two punch, combining for 261 rushing yards and five touchdowns in a 42-34 victory at Northeast's Charles Martin Memorial Stadium.

Vikings tight end Christian Lohin helped soften Imhotep's run defense by notching a season-high three catches for 95 yards.

"We saw all week that the play-action pass was there for the taking," the 6-foot-3, 235-pound senior said. "That was our plan, 'Pound it, pound it, pound it, and then waggle.' We knew we could catch them off guard."

Lohin's 40-yard catch over the middle at the end of the first quarter helped set up McClenton's 15-yard burst around left end that made it 21-0.

In the third quarter, on third and 6 from the Wood 24, Lohin and quarterback Anthony Russo connected for a 20-yard gain. Eleven plays later, McClenton found pay dirt from the 6 to increase the advantage to 35-14.

Though Wood (11-1) was ahead by 42-20 at the end of the third, Imhotep, which this season moved up from Class AA to AAA, battled till the very end.

The Panthers, with Maryland-bound handyman D.J. Moore turning two short tosses from Andre Dreuitt-Parks into scores of 88 and 71 yards, trimmed the gap to 42-34 with 2 minutes, 44 seconds to play.

With Imhotep (10-2) down to one timeout, the Vikings clinched the victory with four straight runs. On fourth and 1 at the Wood 49, Arcangeli picked up 2 yards. Game over.

Arcangeli, who transferred in this year from Bensalem, carried 20 times for 107 yards. The 6-foot, 220-pounder opened the scoring with a 41-yard rumble. "He's been a great addition to our team," said Lohin, who is bound for Delaware.

McClenton carried 25 times for 154 yards and four TDs, including an 80-yard, third-quarter dash. For the season, the Villanova recruit has rushed for 1,551 yards and 27 TDs.

Lohin, who also plays defensive end and handles the punting duties, said a possible playoff meeting with the Panthers "was in the back of our minds all year. We knew they were the biggest challenge to us getting back to states."

The Vikings will take on District 1 titlist Great Valley (12-1) in a state quarterfinal at 1 p.m. Saturday at Northeast.

Notes. In addition to returning two punts for scores in Friday's District 1 Class AAA final against Springfield (Delaware County), Great Valley's Nasir Adderley keyed a 21-0 victory by rushing six times for 55 yards and making six catches for 49 yards . . . . Coatesville's Jordan Young has connected on 206 of 309 passes for 2,734 yards and 19 TDs.

In aiding Downingtown East's drive to the District 1 AAAA semis, Andrew Hudson threw for 2,153 yards and 17 scores. Teammate Cary Angeline, a 6-7 junior tight end and Division I prospect, had 66 receptions for 1,015 yards and 10 TDs. . . . With fellow junior halfback Tyliek Raynor sidelined due to a knee injury, Imhotep's Mike Waters carried 16 times for 88 yards and a score vs. Wood. He also had a 12-yard TD catch.

West Chester Rustin halfback Terry Loper closed his career with a school-record 4,758 rushing yards and 55 scores. . . . Marple Newtown junior wideout Abel Hoff finished with 70 receptions for 774 yards and 10 TDs. . . . Unionville kicker Alex Pechin and Malvern Prep offensive lineman Nick Zarkoski (6-6, 240) have committed to play at Bucknell. . . . St. Joseph's Prep will meet District 11 champ Parkland in a AAAA quarterfinal for the second straight year. Last year, the Hawks downed the Trojans, 21-10, at Frank Banko Field in Bethlehem.

Playoff Schedule

FRIDAY

PIAA District 1 Class AAAA Final

Pennsbury (12-1) vs. Coatesville (13-0), at Souderton, 7 p.m.

PIAA Class AAA Quarterfinal

Great Valley (12-1) vs. Archbishop Wood (11-1), at Northeast, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY

PIAA Class AAAA Quarterfinal

St. Joe's Prep (8-3) vs. Parkland (11-2), at J. Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown, 1 p.m.

PIAA Class AA Quarterfinal

Neumann-Goretti (9-4) vs. Dunmore (12-1), at Northern Lehigh in Slatington, 1 p.m.