Penn Charter's Brian McCloskey was foiled one week by a field that resembled

chocolate pudding - at least from where he tried to pass.

  Another week, he was foiled by a field that seemed like it was laced with

rock candy - at least from the spot where he lay crumpled from a sack.

  Episcopal Academy (10-6 loss) was the opponent the first week and a win

would have semi-produced an Inter-Ac title, what with Malvern Prep on

probation. Malvern (10-7 loss) was the foe the second week and a win

would have been the first in 13 seasons in the ever-frustrating series.

  The past two weeks were not a bowl of cherries for either PC or McCloskey,

the city's top passer (57.4 percent, 131.4 yards per game) and supreme

ballhandler. But the setbacks, much as they stung, were not the end of the

world.

  " I felt down just standing there, not being able to help us," said Brian,

who was injured and subsequently sidelined three plays into the Malvern game,

" but I've learned that football's only a game.

  " DURING THE GAME, everyone did his best as an individual to contribute to

what we were trying to do as a team. When the game was over, it was over. None

of us were happy, but there was no reason to hang our heads. "

  He's come a long way, this kid from Fishtown, this fifth-year senior by way

of the 26th PAL (much help from Tommy Thomson), St. Anne's School, North

Catholic High and, most importantly, the world-renowned Little Quakers weight

team.

  Athletics got him to Penn Charter, but the polish he has gained at the

school, and his intelligence, will take him much further.

  McCloskey, then a North frosh, began to turn heads in 1977 when he starred

for the Little Quakers and was approached by Penn aide Ed Zubrow, then the

coach at Penn Charter. Before he knew it, Brian conquered the school's

entrance exam and was listed as one of five finalists for the Fox Scholarship,

based on need and awarded each year to a promising Little Quaker - in more

than just sports - who decides to attend PC.

  Next thing he knew, Brian was bidding his North friends adieu.

  " I thought about my future, how PC could help me long range," he said. " I

knew PC had better academic standards than North - as a private school, it

had to. You don't come across many great chances in your life. I knew this

was one. Everyone was glad for me. Everyone agreed that I made the right

decision. Mr. Zubrow seemed kind of surprised. He said kids coming here

sometimes had trouble with friends because of jealousy. "

  BRIAN SERVED AS backup to Bob Vorraso during his first season, and has

started since. Brian's football smarts probably are unmatched in the area;

evidence the many plays, plus audibles, he's permitted to call by Coach Bill

Gallagher.

  As PC lost to Episcopal, McCloskey fired 12-for-24 for 171 yards as

conditions grew progressively worse. By game's end, it seemed as if Auntie Em

would appear to herd Dorothy and everyone else into the nearest foul-

weather shelter.

  Just Brian's luck. The monsoon could have hit in mid- morning. Instead it

chose mid-afternoon.

  " We wanted to play. Mr. Gallagher figured Episcopal would not want to

postpone it either," McCloskey said, declining a chance to alibi. " After

getting psyched all week, it would have been a letdown to postpone. "

  Next, as the Quakers lost to Malvern, Brian suffered a broken bone in his

left hand near the base of his thumb. He completed a pass on the fourth play

into the game and departed when PC had to punt.

  " Funny. I almost always sense it when a guy's coming from behind," Brian

said, " but I had no idea until somebody yelled. I waited to see if somebody

could get open, then boom!

  " Something had happened, but I wasn't sure what. It hurt on the side and

Birch Maley played the next two series. Mr. Gallagher asked, 'Feel you can

play? ' I'd give it a shot, I told him. "

  TWO INTERCEPTIONS FOLLOWED, killing the first two series of the second

period. Just Brian's luck.

  " Both were bad throws. The break had nothing to do with it," Brian said,

again declining to alibi. " My fingers stiffened at halftime and I told Coach

Gallagher that he'd better replace me.

  " Birch Maley works hard all week. He's there to play when I can't. The

coaches felt he was capable; everyone felt he was capable. He did a great

job for not having played too much. "

  Although the X-rays proved positive, pain has been minimal during practice

and McCloskey hopes to play tomorrow against Haverford School. As usual, fans

will enjoy watching the 5-9, 170-pounder, who can't always see the completion

of his plays.

  " Big linemen still cause trouble," Brian said. " I'm not fast, but I've

worked on foot speed to help get outside faster. Mr. Zubrow showed us drills

to better hand speed and agility, too. "

  McCloskey, a slick-fielding second baseman, would like to attend an Ivy

League school. If all falls into place, he would like to play football and

baseball.

  Outside pursuits? Someone better create a 36-hour day.

  " LIKE MOST PRIVATE school athletes, especially those who have to travel a

good distance, sports and books are just about all I have time for," Brian

said. " By the time I get home and do my work, I'm too tired for anything

else.

  " First, I had doubts about being able to do the work. Determining exactly

what the workload would be, then making up my mind to do it, were the big

keys. The same thing is true for anything in life. If you know what you're

doing, and how to do it, the easy part is getting it done as long as you

devote enough time. "

  Brian's father and mother, Bud and Peg, are his greatest fans and the

interest in sports doesn't end with the immediate family. Buddy McCloskey's

first cousin is the mother of Dom Damico, the quarterback, ironically, for

North Catholic.

  " Dom and I played 85-pound football for the 26th PAL," Brian said. " I was

the quarterback, he was the center. He's always been one of those

I'll-do-anything, where-do- you-want-me types. When he went to North, I'm

pretty sure he wanted to play running back or defensive back. They needed a

quarterback and he told them he'd try. "

  Try at Penn Charter. That was the verdict decision reached by Brian

McCloskey four-plus years ago. He won't leave the school with a football

championship, but champions don't always play for the best-record teams.