Maginnis big part of La Salle football crew

MATT MAGINNIS' La Salle High football buddies spent the offseason kidding him about being a slacker.

After all, he treated the weight room as if it were under quarantine, and somehow found a way to avoid all other workout sessions, get-togethers, etc.

What have we here? A padded version of a diva?

Hardly.

Maginnis is a multisport star and the other one comes first because he's so good at it.

"The week before camp was ready to start, I was getting a lot of texts from my teammates and coaches," Maginnis said. " 'You're gonna to be there, right?' . . . 'You definitely playing?' . . . 'C'mon, you better show up.' "

Maginnis' primary sporting endeavor is not basketball or baseball or track or golf or wrestling or swimming. Ah, but we're getting closer with that last one because it does involve water.

Row, row, row your boat . . .

"From the day football ends until it starts up again, I'm all about crew," said Maginnis, a stalwart in La Salle's eight-man shell. "All through winter. Then all through spring. Then summer also. That's my main sport."

Soon, main will switch to only.

Maginnis last week took an official visit to Northeastern. He hightailed it yesterday morning to Syracuse and next weekend will bring a trek to Boston University. Those are his final three choices and a scholarship is in the offing.

Maginnis, a 6-3, 215-pound tackle and defensive end, Saturday night spent a large chunk of time at Northeast's Charlie Martin Memorial Stadium and, ultimately, he was able to experience quite the giddy sensation.

La Salle edged Roman Catholic, 23-21, in a Catholic AAAA opener that was always good and often tremendous.

The win wasn't finalized until 2.5 seconds remained, when Dad Poquie posted an end-zone interception on a pass that was tipped by teammate Matt Magarity.

"That whole last part of the game was pretty exciting," Maginnis said. "I was kind of frustrated that I wasn't able to get to the quarterback [Michael Keir], but then to turn around and see Dad make the interception . . .

"Now that the game's over, I'm feeling pretty tired; I was only off the field, total, for one [defensive] series. But [fatigue] wasn't hitting me while we were playing. We all just kept going."

La Salle's line included center Connor Kerrigan, guards Tom Spiteri and Pat Hoffman, tackles Maginnis and Dan Wasylenko and tight end Mike Piscopo. On defense, the other end was Tyler Kern (sometimes Jon Naji) while the tackles were Spiteri and David Losier. Andrew Carlone saw time at tackle and nose guard.

Maginnis enjoyed himself much better on D.

"That side brings you more glory," he said. "You have more of a chance to do your thing. To actually make plays. You have to follow set assignments on offense."

La Salle showed good balance as Tim Wade rushed 26 times for 150 yards and one touchdown while Magarity passed 10-for-22 for 128 and two (one apiece to Colin Buckley and Piscopo). Ultimately, the difference was Ryan Winslow's 27-yard field goal 19 seconds prior to intermission.

For Roman, Keir passed 17-for-36 for 204 and a score to William Fuller, while Marcus Kelly turned 18 carries into 111 yards and a TD. Keir also ran for a TD and big receiving numbers were posted by William Howell (5-81) and Taishan Tucker (5-72).

Maginnis was steered into rowing by his sister, Mary, a graduate of Mt. St. Joseph Academy and now a junior at Harvard. Though the family is based in Maple Glen, it's soon heading for the area near Plymouth-Whitemarsh High.

"Rowing grows on you," Matt said. "You get the same feelings of competition that football gives you. It just happens in a different way.

"For a lineman, I'm not bulky and the guys get on me about not lifting weights. But I feel the muscles I've developed for rowing serve me well for football, too.

"The last 2 years [due to state playoffs], our football seasons lasted so long, I was starting late with rowing. I did have that slightest thought of maybe not sticking with football this year. But when it came down to it . . . I couldn't let it go. Couldn't do that to the guys. Deep down, I guess I knew I was coming back the whole time."

Bottom line, he needed to be part of the football crew.

Online high school coverage at philly.com/rally.