La Salle junior steps up when it counts

With 10:02 remaining in the first half, La Salle quarterback Matt Magarity scrambled to his right, looked downfield, and fired.

In his seven career passes before Friday night's game at North Penn, Magarity had never thrown a pass with these kind of expectations on his shoulders, never been tasked with pulling his team back into a game against arguably the best team in the state.

But on that play - like so many others in La Salle's 27-14 victory over North Penn - Magarity looked as if he'd been there before.

The junior found wide receiver Sean Coleman 23 yards downfield in the end zone, bringing the score to 7-6 with 10:02 left in the first half.

It was the story of Magarity's night.

When the Explorers were out, Magarity brought them back in it.

When La Salle took the lead, Magarity marched the team down the field and ensured the Explorers would play spoiler on this night.

Coaches on both teams said they weren't the least bit surprised by the performance that seemed to shock the packed house at North Penn.

"It was just like I thought," North Penn coach Dick Beck said. "I watched him in the scrimmages; I think he's a fantastic player. He's got a nice arm. He's got a good feel for the game.

"If you watch him on film, the kid's a heck of a player, no doubt."

La Salle coach Drew Gordon said he had no qualms about unleashing Magarity from the opening drive.

"He won this job fair and square," Gordon said. "And quite honestly, he's been throwing the ball very well all summer. If we threw 20 passes in our last scrimmage against Pennsbury, he hit 18 of them.

"There were a couple drops, but he just was not missing passes."

Though Magarity has very little experience playing high school football, he cites a lifetime of football as helping prepare him for this night.

"I wasn't that nervous. I was more anxious than anything," Magarity said after completing 13 of 21 passes for 140 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. "I've been playing football since I was six or seven years old.

"So I just wanted to come out here tonight and have fun."

North Penn entered Week 1 as the team to beat this year, but just months after winning the PIAA Class AAAA state championship, thanks to a young and inexperienced quarterback, La Salle seems once again the team to beat in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

"I'm glad we have him," Gordon said. "I'm really glad we have him."