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Wood's Arcangeli is Player of Week after city title win

With his bruising style, running back Alex Arcangeli wins accolades for 105-yard effort in win over Imhotep.

IT MAY SEEM as if Alex Arcangeli has a running style that's antithetical to carrying the football successfully.

At 6-foot and 220 pounds, the Archbishop Wood senior isn't necessarily looking for holes near the line of scrimmage. He's looking for bodies to bang into.

"Basically, when I run the ball, the way I see everything is that I notice defenders trying to attack me and I want to attack them first," he said. "I never really look to escape from people. I kind of just try to punish people."

Arcangeli, our final Player of the Week this season, plowed 20 times for 105 yards in the AAA city title game Saturday against Public League champion Imhotep Charter. The Vikings were victorious, 42-32, and captured their seventh consecutive city crown.

The hard-charging Arcangeli sealed the deal with a fourth-and-1 conversion at midfield with little more than a minute remaining.

In fact, save for his first attempt, most of his carries at Charles Martin Memorial field were of the bulldozing variety. However, Arcangeli was hardly touched on No. 1 - a 41-yard touchdown burst up the middle on the Vikings' first play from scrimmage.

"Yeah, that was definitely a strange experience," he said, laughing. "There was nobody to hit."

Powering through opposition isn't unfamiliar territory for the former Bensalem High gridder, whose transfer was contested by his former school.

"They tried to stop my transfer and we had to go to a [district] hearing," Arcangeli said. "It was definitely a scary situation to be in, knowing that I could have been denied and possibly lost my senior year of football."

Months removed from that ordeal, Arcangeli is focused on winning with new teammates and an old friend. He and last year's Daily News Player of the Year, Jarrett McClenton, form one of the state's most dangerous backfields.

"I don't think a lot of people know this just yet, but my next-door neighbor is actually Jarrett," Arcangeli revealed. "We've grown up together our whole lives. In elementary school, we would play at recess and it would be me and him vs. the rest of our grade."

This season, McClenton leads Wood with 1,555 yards and 27 rushing touchdowns on 10.4 yards per carry. Arcangeli is next, with 654 yards and seven ground tallies (also four receiving) on nearly 7 yards per attempt.

Arcangeli was also an all-league linebacker as a sophomore and junior, which could account for his physical style. He had already generated Division I-AA (FCS) interest as a defender, but says heads have now turned toward his ground game.

"I kinda feel like I just want to play offense," he said. "I enjoy running the ball, so I'd say that's my preference."

Arcangeli also prefers to keep rolling toward a state title with his new squad. Friday at 7 p.m., Wood (11-1) plays District 1's Great Valley at Northeast High.

And judging by his predilection for punishment, you can probably guess what he loves most about his new football program.

"It's awesome," he said. "It's definitely been awesome, especially playing with a group of guys who want to win just as bad as you do. We have a really tough practice schedule and a tough lifting schedule, maybe toughest in the state, and I think that's what makes us great."

Others considered: Imhotep Charter seniors Andre Dreuitt-Parks (quarterback) and D.J. Moore (wide receiver), Ben Franklin seniors Kevin Caldwell (QB and Rapheal Rodriguez (wide receiver), Archbishop Wood senior Jarrett McClenton (running back) and Ss. Neumann-Goretti junior running back Khalil Roane.

Top 10 city high school football teams

1. St. Joseph's Prep 8-3

2. Archbishop Wood 11-1

3. Haverford School 9-1

4. Imhotep 10-2

5. Ben Franklin 10-1

6. La Salle 8-3

7. Ss. Neumann-Goretti 9-4

8. Malvern Prep 6-4

9. Simon Gratz 10-2

10. Prep Charter 9-1-1

Also considered: Archbishop Ryan, Bonner-Prendie, Del-Val, Springside Chestnut Hill, West Catholic