Monaghan's stellar effort key to Wood's success

LIKE EVERYONE who's watching the Eagles this season, Joey Monaghan groans much more than he cheers.

More often than that, he finds himself wincing.

The 6-1, 190-pound Monaghan, a senior, is the quarterback for ever-mighty Archbishop Wood High. And even though he wears No. 13, he's experiencing much better luck than that fellow lefty who sports No. 7.

"I can't believe what's happening to Michael Vick," Monaghan said Tuesday, standing in the weight room before a lifting session, which preceded an indoor practice. "He's getting killed."

Monaghan has sympathy. He just can't relate.

Behind a large and talented offensive line that includes three Division I commits, center Brandon Arcidiacono (Rutgers), tackle Frank Taylor (Boston College) and tight end Colin Thompson (Florida), it's almost as if Monaghan spends each game at the beach.

"Last game, I got hit three times," he said, referring to the Vikings' 42-12 win over Monsignor Bonner for the Catholic AAA title, "and that was the most I'd been hit since our opener against Pittsburgh Central Catholic."

Hit was used loosely.

"Actually, I only went down once," he said, smiling. "The other two hits were taps on the shoulder."

While leading Wood - set to face Murrell Dobbins Tech for the AAA City Title at noon Saturday, at Northeast - to a 10-1 overall record and 487 points, Monaghan has been quite the picture of near-perfection.

The Daily News has been keeping detailed track of city statistics since 1981 and, in that time frame, the best passing percent (minimum 100 attempts) was posted by Cardinal O'Hara's Colin Smith (63.1) in 2001.

Monaghan's is way better, though he's still short on attempts. He's an incredible 60-for-76 (78.9!!) for 1,158 yards and 16 TDs and his yards-per-attempt number is also outrageously gaudy (15.2).

When asked about his stats, Monaghan turned three shades of red.

"I never thought something like this would happen," he said. "But my line has been doing a great job all year, and the receivers make all the plays. I just have to put it around them."

When asked whether his pass-catchers have been pass-droppers at least a time or two, he thought for a second then cooed, "I don't think so. No drops come to mind."

Monaghan, who also serves coach Steve Devlin at safety, is the second-year QB starter and even saw extended action in three games as a soph because of an injury to Jerry Rahill. He already owns Wood's passing record for game yardage (295) and needs only 60 to reach 3,000 for his career. Current totals: 171-for-271 for 2,940 and 35 TDs.

Often this season, the Vikings have frolicked to such a large degree, the starters have seen scant second-half daylight, if any.

That might make one wonder how Wood would react in a down-to-the-wire contest, but Monaghan, who also plays baseball (pitcher-outfielder), is confident the squad is being pushed hard enough each day in practice.

Plus, the Vikings can't completely puff out their chests. They did lose that opener to Pittsburgh CC on Labor Day weekend (and they're still feeling the sting of last year's 49-27 loss to Allentown Central Catholic in a AAA semifinal).

"We learned a lot from it," said Monaghan, referring to the PCC loss. "And we've been playing great ever since. It humbled us a little, but playing a team at that level gave us a taste of everything that could come.

"We take [the early departures] as a great thing. It means we did our job."

The Vikings' offensive starters aside from Monaghan and the aforementioned three D-I's are guards Nick Arcidiacono and George Griffin, tackle Fran Walsh, rushing first cousins Desmon Peoples (Rutgers) and Brandon Peoples (Temple), and wideouts Nate Smith (West Virginia) and Kyle Adkins.

Monaghan, who lives in Doylestown, sports a 3.8 GPA and envisions a career in the FBI, is hearing from Georgetown, Bucknell, Holy Cross and Princeton, among others.

Monaghan and quarterbacking go way back. Although he was a running back as a third- and fourth-grader, he moved under center in fifth.

"My dad [Joe] was the coach and offensive coordinator," Joey said, "and he'd played quarterback his whole life; started his senior year at North Penn High.

"Up until then, we'd always have catches in the backyard, and I'd always say I wanted to be a receiver. But when I got to fifth grade, we didn't really have another quarterback . . . There I was.

"I like being in charge. Calling the plays. Having everyone look at me in the huddle. I'm a pretty quiet guy. Even at practice I don't say much. But in the games, my personality changes."

And every throw, pretty much, finds its mark. Even better, he gets to see the catches rather than stars.

Online high school coverage at philly.com/rally.