Rick O'Brien: Craig carrying Springfield-Delco on gridiron

Matt Craig, Springfield-Delco's quick-footed and powerful senior tailback, treats every carry like it's his last.

Maybe that's because a heart murmur three years ago nearly meant the end of his football career. Fortunately, the condition, discovered when Craig was a freshman at Penncrest, passed a few weeks later and physicians at duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington gave him clearance to play.

After his mother, Edith, died from a heart condition, Craig, then 15, moved in with his first cousin, Yvonne Mason.

"If it wasn't for her taking me in and treating me like a son, I wouldn't be where I'm at right now," the 18-year-old said.

Transferring to Springfield after his mother's death, Craig saw his first varsity action as a sophomore. He burst onto the scene last year, rushing for 1,800 yards and 22 touchdowns as the improved Cougars went 4-7 overall and 4-5 in the Central League.

"This kid's been through a lot," Dan Ellis, Springfield's third-year coach, said. "For most of his life, things have been pretty rough. But he's a battler, rolls with the punches."

Friday night, the 5-foot-10, 180-pound Craig exploded for a career-high 324 yards on 41 carries and scored seven touchdowns as the visiting Cougars topped Conestoga, 54-39, in a Central League matchup in Tredyffrin Township.

"His physical ability is tremendous," Ellis said. "And as time has gone by, his work ethic and desire have improved. He's having a great senior year."

Against Conestoga, Craig, who doubles as an outside linebacker, rushed for six TDs. He also returned a first-quarter interception 23 yards for a score.

"It was a play-action pass play," Craig said of his defensive tally. "I went for the fake at first, recovered, and dropped back in coverage, and then [Pioneers quarterback Bill Flatley] threw a bullet right at me. I don't think he ever saw me."

His previous single-game rushing high was 305 yards, gained last year in a 42-13 win over Lower Merion.

"We definitely leaned on him a lot Friday night," Ellis said. "He didn't complain a lick. That tells you a lot about him."

Springfield's offensive line, dominant most of the way, included center Fred Ries (5-11, 220), guards Eric Gibbs (5-11, 245) and Nick Coyne (6-0, 265), and tackles Vince Marra (6-1, 195) and John Ciurlino (6-2, 200).

"They did great," said Craig, who has been clocked at 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash. "I couldn't have done it without them."

A spread attack, often with a four-receiver set, has also been boosted by rising junior QB Ryan Strain and wideouts Denzel Thompson and Dontae Allen.

The Cougars are 6-2 overall and 6-1 in the Central League. Should they make noise in the PIAA District 1 Class AAA playoffs, Craig, with about 3,400 career yards, could threaten the all-time school mark of 4,440, set by Marty Brown in 1995.

"As a running back, he's a mix of different things," Ellis said. "He's fast, but he's not going to completely run away from people. Probably his biggest asset is his power. When he puts his head down, it takes a few people to tackle him."

The leaders of Springfield's 4-4 defense are inside linebackers Tyler Morrissey and Mike Dougherty, credited with 18 and 13 tackles, respectively, vs. Conestoga. Thompson and Allen are hard-hitting cornerbacks.

Craig, who specializes in the 100-meter dash (10.8 seconds) and long jump in track and field, has heard from Boston College, Kent State, and Temple. To strengthen his academics, he may opt for a prep school or junior-college program.

Showdown on tap. In arguably the area's most anticipated regular-season game, fellow Catholic League Class AAA unbeatens Archbishop Wood and Cardinal O'Hara, both 8-0 and 2-0, will clash at 2 p.m., Saturday at O'Hara's new turf field.

Fourth-ranked Wood, coming off Saturday's 31-0 blanking of host Monsignor Bonner, has outscored foes by 303-95. Fifth-ranked O'Hara, a 45-7 victor at Archbishop Carroll Friday, has won by 277-37.

Extra points. In limiting Bonner to 70 yards rushing and 85 passing, Wood's defense was spearheaded by middle linebacker Sam McCain (five tackles, one hurry), end Brian Butler (four, one), and outside linebacker James Messina (four, one). Butler, fellow end Colin Thompson (first-quarter interception), tackles Rory Clark and Frank Taylor, and reserve lineman Fran Walsh had second-half sacks. Sophomore Nick Arcidiacono partially blocked Matt Hudash's second-quarter punt. . . . Wood's Desmon and Brandon Peoples combined for 202 yards rushing and three TDs on 22 attempts. . . . For Bonner, linebacker Marcus Collins registered six tackles, including three solos, and a hurry. Free safety James Haley had five solo stops. . . . In Northeast's 13-6, division-clinching win Friday over Public League Gold foe George Washington, Vikings end Deion Barnes, a Division I-A recruit, had 11/2 sacks. Washington junior tailback Hakeem Sillman missed the game to attend a family funeral. The Eagles finished with 82 yards rushing and 87 passing. The Vikings totaled 78 yards on the ground and 35 by air. Northeast second-year coach Chris Riley received a watercooler dousing at the end from beefy lineman Terrell Coleman.