"I get that from my dad and my cousins," Henry said. "Well, really, my whole family has outgoing people. Just how we are.

"When I'm playing football, I'm always excited. I'm talking and yelling and showing emotion and trying to get us going."

As Henry, a 6-foot, 185-pound junior at Bishop McDevitt High, uttered those words, his voice was cracking and squeaking non-stop. Some of the sounds coming out of his mouth were so weird, even he had to laugh.

Hey, it's fun winning a playoff game.

The occasion Saturday afternoon at Plymouth-Whitemarsh High was a Catholic AA semifinal between the Lancers and Archbishop Carroll. Though opportunities for entertainment were mostly scarce in a game that looked like something out of the 1930s (there were only five total passes in gusty winds and occasional spritzing), Henry created quite the stir with a pair of late-game plays, sparking a 21-0 triumph.

With McDevitt nursing a 7-0 lead, Henry uncorked a 55-yard burst and classmate Gary Postell (25-143) ran 18 yards for a touchdown two plays later.

On Carroll's next play, he stormed across the line from his outside linebacker spot (he also plays some safety) to intercept a pitchout and then enjoyed an easy, 18-yard sprint to the end zone.

"I liked that play better because I never did it before," Henry said.

He continued, "They had run that toss play maybe six, seven times and when I saw they were in the same formation, I decided to blitz. Before they kept blocking me. Not this time. The toss came right to me.

"I caught it and ran ... Ran for my life."

Henry's 55-yarder came on his second and final carry.

"Our plan all week was to surprise Carroll with passing," he said. "I was kind of disappointed because both teams ran all game. I got the handoff, saw daylight and just followed my blockers. Matt Conroy was giving me some good ones. When I slowed down so he could give me another one, that's when I got caught.

"I wanted to go all the way. The disappointment left me when I turned and saw all our fans, and my teammates, going crazy. I knew I picked us up. Gave us a boost. We just had to continue downfield and get the score."

Henry's nickname can be traced to his middle name, Nicholas.

"Everybody that knows me calls me Nico," he said.

And he does mean everybody.

"Yup, my teachers and even the principal," he said, laughing.

"Nico's a funny kid," coach Pat Manzi said. "You're going to enjoy talking to him."

While this season is hardly over - the Lancers will meet West Catholic in the CL final Saturday at 7 p.m. at Northeast - Henry thinks his personality will make 2010 even better.

You see, he lives around the corner from about-to-close Cardinal Dougherty and is friends with many of the players. Especially the underclassmen.

"My dad wanted me to get out of the neighborhood for high school," Henry said. "Meet new people. Experience new things. Get out and explore.

"It's sad what's happening at Dougherty. But I know a lot of those guys and they'll be coming to McDevitt. They're going to like it."

Especially if Nico's voice remains squeako.