Loughery follows family tradition as Penn Charter QB

As recently as 2 years ago, John Loughery's favorite NFL quarterback was that guy who plays for New England.

"Now," he said, "Matt's really the only one I care about."

Understandable, since blood is shared. Not to mention passion for the position.

The 6-5, 210-pound Loughery, a junior, is making waves as Penn Charter's quarterback, and Saturday he tied the city record for completions in game, with 27, while sparking a 21-14, come-from-behind, nonleague win at Hun School, of Princeton, N.J.

His first cousin is none other than Matt Ryan, a product of PC (class of 2003) and Boston College, who already is starring as a second-year QB with the Atlanta Falcons.

But that's not all. Loughery's father, also named John, starred at QB for PC ('78) and preceded Doug Flutie as Boston College's signal-caller. Also productive as QBs were Matt Ryan's older brother, Mike, who played at Malvern Prep ('00) and Widener, and his younger brother, John, who graduated from PC last June and is now a freshman at Brown.

John Loughery Sr.'s PC stats are unavailable, but the Ryan brothers - Mike (2,521), Matt (2,984), John (1,621) - and John Loughery Jr. (1,935) have combined to pass for 9,061 yards as high schoolers.

Call these guys the First Family of Flingin'. Just don't press John Loughery Jr. too hard on why he loves the position, and about the challenges it presents.

"Hmm, I don't know," he said, smiling. "I've never really thought about it."

He then paused briefly and added: "I like throwing the ball...And having control of what's going on out there...And I like the satisfaction you get when you see your team come together and get the kind of win we did at Hun."

Those associated with the team will long remember it.

Though coach Jeff Humble's Quakers trailed, 14-0, midway through the third quarter, they roared to victory mostly behind the firing of Loughery and the snagging of senior wideout Joey Sankey.

Loughery's 27 completions matched the number posted in a 1989 game by St. Joseph's Prep's Frank Costa, who went on to start for the University of Miami in '94. Loughery got them in 40 attempts and the yields were 289 yards and two touchdowns.

Sankey caught 13 passes (two short of the city mark) for 156 yards. Other contributors were Mick Foley (7-59), Michael Brown (3-36), David Martina (3-33) and Jim Lamb (1-5). The O-line featured center Cornell Harriott, guards Mark Opaliski and Casey Maher, tackles Tyler Mercer and Jake Richards and tight ends Blair Bodeck and Mike McGlinchey (another of Loughery's first cousins).

"For the team to come together like that and play almost a perfect second half, it was huge," Loughery said. "Joey did a great job. He's so quick and fast. He was hurt all preseason and we weren't able to use him to the full extent until a couple games in. He gives us so much."

Perhaps Loughery gets tongue-tied when talking about the ins and outs of being a quarterback because he's darn near been one since birth.

He's never known another position. Never had reason to think about why he loved it, or what it entailed. Just did it.

He got his pound-ball start with the Conestoga Generals, and his father was always his coach.

"I owe almost everything to him. For everything he's taught me," Loughery said. "I'm really appreciative. He knows so much about the position, since he experienced it all. Before or after games, I can talk to him about anything, and he relates to it all.

"He pushes me, but only because he wants me to work hard and do my best and not waste any opportunities."

John Jr. became PC's starter a year earlier than expected. John Ryan suffered an injury in game No. 2 last season and Loughery went the rest of the way, passing for 999 yards and six TDs.

"John's probably my best friend. More like a brother," Loughery said. "I feel like I can ask him anything. I talk to him once or twice a week."

As for Matt...

"It's really cool to have a cousin like that, someone you can follow in the pros," Loughery said. "The best thing is, he hasn't changed. He's still a great person. I don't talk to him that much, but I know I can ask him for advice and teaching skills whenever I want.

"As a family, we watch every one of his games. I haven't seen any in person yet this year, but I saw four to five last year, and one was the playoff game [at Arizona]. I even got to go on the field before the game. That was neat.

"I used to be a ballboy at Matt's PC games. I didn't come here until the seventh grade, so back then, I was never imagining this...Being the quarterback at the same school where my dad and two of my cousins played. I'm proud of this."

John Loughery Sr. has no brothers, but there are five sisters, Patty, Debbie, Bernie, Mary Jane and Janet. (Cool tidbit: Four are married to guys named Mike). Sam McCain, a nephew, is a star receiver at Archbishop Wood. Two of Sam's younger brothers (Pat, Jake) also play, and Pat is a QB. The aforementioned McGlinchey, who stands 6-7 and is only a freshman, has designs on becoming PC's QB in the '11 season. His younger brother, Frank, also plays football. All kids in the Ryan, Hartman and Tarpey families are now beyond high school age.

Meanwhile, don't assume John Loughery Jr., an only child, has every possible Matt Ryan hunk of whatever.

"I don't ask him for too much. I try not to be one of those guys," he said, laughing. "I do have one of his Boston College jerseys and last year - we wear the same size shoe - he did give me a pair of his old BC cleats."

Someday, maybe John Loughery Jr.'s paraphernalia also will be treasured.i