Born to play QB, Rahill leads Springside Chestnut Hill to victory
Matt Rahill's football bloodlines, especially when it comes to playing quarterback, run deep. Rahill's brothers, Jerry and Chris, played the position at Archbishop Wood. His cousin, Chris, was a signal-caller at Penn Charter and is now the Quakers' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Matt Rahill's football bloodlines, especially when it comes to playing quarterback, run deep.
Rahill's brothers, Jerry and Chris, played the position at Archbishop Wood. His cousin, Chris, was a signal-caller at Penn Charter and is now the Quakers' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
"I learned a lot from all of them," Matt Rahill said. "People say that I have the same personality type as my brothers. We're all pretty calm and laid back."
On Saturday afternoon, Rahill's cool demeanor behind center was a key factor in host Springside Chestnut Hill Academy's 28-21 nonleague victory over Roman Catholic at sun-splashed Maguire Stadium.
The 6-foot-3, 180-pound senior converted 8 of 10 passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns as the Blue Devils (2-1) built a 28-7 advantage.
A second-year starter at quarterback, he also carried eight times for 113 yards before the break. His 77-yard, right-side scamper midway through the first quarter put the Cahillites in a 14-0 hole.
"Our offensive coaches, Mike Mattei and Nihja White, told me to take off whenever I saw an opening," Rahill said. "So that's what I did."
On SCH's first series, Rahill directed a seven-play, 87-yard drive that was capped by his 6-yard touchdown pass to Evan Krawczuk. He completed passes of 32, 11, and 2 yards to set up the tally.
"We saw his potential in bits and pieces last year," Blue Devils coach Rick Knox said. "This year, you can really see his development. He's much faster and his arm is stronger."
In the final seconds of the first half, Rahill rolled left, escaped a heavy rush, and found leaping wideout Tyson Hugee in the back of the end zone for a 33-yard TD. Two plays earlier, he delivered a 21-yard pass to Pat Elliott.
Said Knox: "He makes good throws on the run and he makes good throws inside the pocket."
Overall, Rahill, who will play lacrosse at Maryland, hit on 12 of 17 throws for 192 yards. He carried 18 times for 158 yards.
Roman (1-3) cut the gap to 28-21 in the third quarter with drives of 92 and 68 yards. Miles McLeod's second and third touchdown runs of the afternoon covered 4 and 2 yards.
The Cahillites reached the SCH 32 early in the fourth quarter, but Anthony Butler's pass was partially deflected by Elliott and intercepted by Nick Logue.
"I'm so proud of the way we came together as a team and won this game," said Rahill, of Chalfont. "We played like a family. We just have to another great week of practice and be ready for [Father] Judge."
The 18-year-old, one of Jerry and Pina Rahill's five children, sometimes had to miss summer football workouts to look after his younger siblings. Gianna, 11, has Down syndrome; Franny, 16, has special needs.
"They're great," Rahill said. "They mean the world to me. I've probably learned more from them than they have from me. I enjoy the time I spend with them."
Roman Catholic 0 7 14 0 - 21
Springside Chest. Hill 14 14 0 0 - 28
SCH: Evan Krawczuk 6 pass from Matt Rahill (Jack Myers kick)
SCH: Rahill 77 run (Myers kick)
RC: Miles McLeod 3 run (Ryan Flaherty kick)
SCH: Jordan Young 6 run (Myers kick)
SCH: Tyson Hugee 33 pass from Rahill (Myers kick)
RC: McLeod 4 run (Flaherty kick)
RC: McLeod 2 run (Flaherty kick)
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