Philadelphia High School Football
History of Archbishop Wood in Warminster, PA

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 This page details much of the football history of Archbishop Wood High
in Warminster, PA, a Philadelphia suburb. The Vikings played a
patchwork schedule in the 1965 season, then joined the Catholic League
for the 1966 season and have remained there since.
  If corrections are needed, please contact Ted Silary at tedtee307@yahoo.com
and provide verification of new information, if possible. Thanks!
  Please note: Some elements are still being finalized.
  (Information prior to 1976 was provided mostly by Dr. Roger B. Saylor,
a famed Pennsylvania football historian. He passed away in 2013.) 

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SCHOOL RECORDS

Most Wins Season
          14 in 2011 and 2014
Longest Winning Streak
          20, last nine games in 2014, first 11 games in 2015
Most Losses Season
          10 in 1970 and 1995
Longest Losing Streak
          18, last eight games in 1994, all 10 games in 1995
Most Points Scored
          Season: 699 in 2011 (14-1 record)
          Game: 70 vs. Allentown Central Catholic in 2011 (70-14)
Most Points Allowed
          Season: 306 in 2000 (6-6 record)
          Game: 77 vs. Carroll in 2000 (77-0)
Fewest Points Scored Season
          17 in 1995
Fewest Points Allowed Season
          66 in 1982
Most Shutouts Season
          5 in 2007 
Most Times Shut Out Season
          7 in 1995
Biggest Winning Margin
          57 vs. Mastery North in 2011 (57-0)
Biggest Losing Deficit
          77 vs. Carroll in 2000 (77-0)
Longest Shutout Streak
          4, games four through seven in 2007
Longest Streak Times Shut Out
          5, games three through seven in 1995
Longest Streak Without Being Shut Out
          145, last 14 games 2010, all 130 games from 2011 through four games in 2020
Longest Streak Without a Shutout
          39, all 30 games from 1994 through 1996, first nine games in 1997
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DETAILS OF WOOD'S CHAMPIONSHIPS

CATHOLIC LEAGUE TITLES
1974
Overall
At Villanova Stadium
Wood 19, Carroll 15
    A few days after his father, Dick, accepted the head coaching
job at Villanova, Greg Bedesem rushed 16 times for 102 yards and a
46-yard TD on a muddy field as Wood won its first championship. Wood
coach John "Skip" Duffy had played under Dick Bedesem at Egan. Charlie
Gross (22-79) and Ed Guarnaccia (14-77) also ran for a TD apiece for
Wood, which scored the first 19 points and then held on as Mike Bailey
(19-for-30, 212) threw a pair of TD passes to Mike Saksa (12-176) and
came close to a third. Ray Kent's end-zone interception with 1:18 left
saved Wood.
1978
Overall
At Northeast
Wood 7, O'Hara 6
    Wood posted a 35-yard TD run by Bill Black (22-101) on its first
series, then held on. With 6:44 remaining, Bob Rafferty ran 4 yards for
a TD and kicker Bill Mitchell ran onto the field though O'Hara was
trailing the total offense battle by 50 yards and that would have been
the determining factor had the game ended in a tie. After much
discussion, O'Hara went for two and Brian McCartney intercepted.
2003
Blue Division
At Northeast
Wood 17, West Catholic 14
   The Vikings completed their first perfect season (11-0) in school history
while capturing their first title since 1978. Tom Laurich won it by kicking
a 35-yard field goal with 4:22 left. Mike Kruzits (10-52) ran 10 yards for a
TD and Dane Mangin hit James Harrigan with a 13-yard TD pass with
just 0:02 left in the first half. Mangin finished 6-for-9 for 85 yards; he
entered the game averaging 22 passing yards. Soph Bryan McCartney ran
22 times for 134, padding his school record season total to 1,417. Shane
Rose made two tackles on star rusher Curtis "Boonah" Brinkley to thwart
West's final drive, which advanced as close as the 30. Tim Kilkenny, who
earlier posted an interception, broke up what could have been a TD pass in
the end zone. Brinkley ran for TDs of 70 and 81 yards and finished with 19
carries for 213 yards. He concluded his career with city records for carries
(1,007) and yards (7,413).
2004
Blue Division
At Villanova Stadium
Wood 29, West Catholic 0
    The Vikings cruised in the first game of a day-night doubleheader as Chris
Hanson became the first player in the history of CL title games to pass for
three TDs. He went 8-for-9 for 94 yards while the scoring tosses went to Jim
Harrigan, Chris Lorditch and Ryan Dolan and raised his season's total to 21.
His number of rushing TDs for the season? One. It came in this one (14 yards)
and capped the scoring. Bryan McCartney gained 132 yards on 25 carries.
West, 8-0 during league play, trailed only by a TD as the third quarter began
and drove straight down the field. Harrigan (solo) and Bill Gross (with Harrigan)
made no-gain tackles on third and fourth down at the 3 to keep the Burrs out
of the end zone. Lorditch and John McFadden had interceptions. Wood
became the first team to win back-to-back CL titles under different coaches
(Art Barrett, then Joe Powel) since West in 1944-45.
2005
Blue Division
At Northeast
Wood 30, West Catholic 12
   This one turned in the blink of an eye. The game's first score came with 40.5
seconds left in the first half as Joe Kosich (7-for-16, 86 yards) whipped a 14-yard
pass to Chris Lorditch. Pat Devlin followed immediately with an interception and a
44-yard return to the West 15, then on the ensuing play eased into the end zone and
snagged a 15-yard pass at 16.5. Bryan McCartney (24-115; 3,671 for career) and sub
Patrick Avallon ran for second-half TDs and Lorditch kicked a 24-yard field goal.
For West, which suffered a fourth consecutive title-game defeat, the headliners were
Wayne Donahue (11 tackles, TD run) and John Maddox (interception, TD catch).
2008
AAA Division
At Northeast
Wood 44, Conwell-Egan 14
  The Vikings, which had posted a school-record five consecutive shutouts, received an
immediate jolt as Kerry McAnany returned the opening kickoff 82 yards for a TD. Then they
rolled to 44 consecutive points behind the rushing of Sean Cunningham (30-210, TD) and Nick
Devine (7-58, three) and running/passing of Sean McCartney (203 combined yards). Steve
Devlin became the third Wood to coach to win a title in a six-year period, joining Art Barrett in
'03 and Joe Powel in '04-'05. Scott Adkins and Shane Miller posted interceptions and Adkins
recovered an onside kick right before halftime; James McFadden followed with a 37-yard field
goal. For C-E, Matt Della-Croce hit Ryan Golin with a 12-yard TD pass.
2009
AAA Division
At Plymouth-Whitemarsh
Wood 21, North Catholic 7
  Kevin Murt ran 21 times for 60 yards and two early TDs, then packed 44 of his yards into
the fourth quarter, enabling his squad to maintain and expand a 14-7 lead. The Vikings' last
score was a pass from Jerry Rahill to Kevin Shaw, who also uncorked a 31-yard catch to set up
Murt's first TD and a 20-yard run to help make the second one possible. For North, Eugene
"U-Turn" Byrd ran 13 times for 87 yards and a TD, Julian Huggins posted an interception and
David D. Williams' 10 tackles included eight solos.
2010
AAA Division
At Plymouth-Whitemarsh
Wood 24, O'Hara 7
  The night ended poorly for Desmon Peoples, as he suffered a broken foot with 2:49 left.
Beforehand? He owned it, witness his 29 carries for 173 yards and three TDs (long of 47). Nick
Visco hit three PAT and a 35-yard field goal. Ends Colin Thompson and Brian Butler and tackles
Rory Clark and Frank Taylor were dominant while turning O'Hara's running game into a rumor
(20 attempts, minus-12 yards). Ryan Laughlin passed 9-for-17 for 160 yards and a 65-yard score
to Drew Formica. This was Wood's third consecutive title and sixth in eight years. Two weeks
earlier, in the regular season finale, the Vikings had outlasted O'Hara, 48-34.
2011
AAA Division
At Plymouth-Whitemarsh
Wood 42, Bonner 14
  The Peoples cousins, Desmon and Brandon, each surpassed 100 rushing yards as the Vikings
stormed to an easy win. Desmon led in TDs, 2-1, but Brandon topped him in yardage,
134-107, and picked off a pass as well.  Joey Monaghan ran for one score and hit Kyle Adkins
for another. Bonner’s Jim Haley managed 117 yards of rushing/passing (TD to Paul Pfeffinger)
along with an interception.
2012
AAA Division
At Plymouth-Whitemarsh
Wood 38, Bonner-Prendergast 16
  After rushing for 345 and 304 yards in his previous two outings, Andrew Guckin produced 281
and four TDs on 24 carries to power the Vikings to their fifth consecutive title. They're perfect in
league play (27-0, counting playoffs) during that span. Nick Visco added a field goal and five PAT
while Chris Rahill posted an interception. For B-P, Jim Haley ran 15 times for 96 yards and two
TDs while sharing passing duties (88 yards) with Collin DiGalbo (10-for-18, 140). Mike Roman
(7-70) and Christian Summers (4-68) were the receiving leaders.
2013
AAA Division
At Plymouth-Whitemarsh
Wood 42, Bonner-Prendie 6
  The Vikings frolicked to 42 first half points while earning their sixth consecutive crown and upping
their division record during that time frame, including playoffs, to 32-0. Average score: 39-9.
Jarrett McClenton bagged 110 yards and three TDs on 10 carries while Jake Cooper scored once
on a pass from Tom Garlick and again on an interception. Kendall Singleton (70-yard fumble return)
also tallied for the defense. B-P avoided a shutout on Collin DiGalbo's 3-yard keeper.
2014
AAA Division
At Plymouth-Whitemarsh
Wood 35, Ryan 14
  Fullback Alex Arcangeli scored Wood's first TD on a 5-yard run, then gave way to the Jarrett
McClenton Show. The senior tailback carried 12 times for 125 yards and three TDs while adding
a fourth score on a majestic 67-yard punt return. McClenton finished with 3,746 career rushing
yards, best in school history over the 3,671 by '06 grad Bryan McCartney. The title was Wood's
seventh in succession and extended their CL winning streak to 39 games (25 regular season, 14
playoffs). For Ryan, Charles "Cha Cha" Gary caught a TD pass and recovered a fumble to set
up a rushing score for Samir Bullock (16-85).
2015
AAA Division
At Tennent
Wood 35, Ryan 7
  On a play that began with three seconds left in the first half, Anthony Russo tossed a screen
pass to Raheem "Speedy" Blackshear and wound up in the Catholic League record book.
Blackshear posted a 45-yard TD for Russo's 34th aerial score of the season, surpassing 33 by
La Salle's Brett Gordon in 1997. Earlier, Russo had hit James Gillespie for a 44-yard score. After
starting the game by forcing a three-and-out, the Vikings posted a TD on their first play as
receiver Jordan Johnson zoomed 59 yards on a reverse. Blackshear also had two rushing tallies
and linebacker Ryan Barrett notched three early sacks. Jaye McNeil ran for Ryan's score.       

CITY TITLES
1974
OVERALL
At Veterans Stadium
Wood 20, Central 8
    Out of a machinelike wishbone formation, Charlie Gross (26-100), Greg Bedesem (19-70)
and Ed Guarnaccia ran for second-half TDs as Wood shrugged off an 8-0 halftime deficit. A
41-yard halfback pass from Gross to Matt Perkins set up the decisive TD. For Central, Bob
Fecanin produced 91 yards and a TD on 20 carries.
2008
AAA
At Northeast
Wood 56, Dobbins 7
   Sean Cunningham turned 15 carries into 109 yards and four TDs and dislodged Bryan
McCartney, the brother of Wood QB Sean, as the school's one-season rushing leader (1,498
to 1,417). McCartney passed 5-for-6 for 129 yards and the game's first score to Anthony
Narisi. For Dobbins, QB Terrell "Mouse" Barringer dashed 76 yards to create a 7-7 tie.
2009
AAA
At Northeast
Wood 42, Gratz 6
  The Vikings stormed to 28 points in the second quarter, thus assuring the second half would
be played with a running clock. Charlie McCairns sparked the outburst by logging three tackles
behind the line and recovering a mishandled squib kickoff. Jerry Rahill passed 11-for-14 for 180
and one TD apiece to Kevin Murt and Scott Adkins and turned shotgun snaps into scores of
37 and 18 yards. Murt (10-55) also ran for two six-pointers. Gratz' score came on a 46-yard
run by Jamir Anderson.
2010
AAA
At Northeast
Wood 44, Dobbins 7
  With his cousin, tailback Desmon Peoples, sidelined with a foot injury, fullback Brandon
Peoples switched positions and contributed 123 yards/three TDs on 14 carries. Soph Andrew
Guckin posted 79 yards and two TDs (rush/catch of three  yards apiece) on his first scrimmage
touches of the season while Joey Monaghan passed 7-for-10 for 121 yards, mostly to Sam McCain
(5-108; back from concussion). The Vikings roared to 37 points in just over one quarter, then
Dobbins broke through (Aaron Walker's 27-yard run) against the second-team defense.
2011
CLASS AAA
At Northeast
Wood 49, Dobbins 0
  Star rushers Desmon and Brandon Peoples combined for just one carry as the Vikings went
to the air again and again while scoring 42 points in the first 19 minutes. Joey Monaghan finished
12-for-14 for 199 yards and four TDs, two to Kyle Adkins and one apiece to Nate Smith (also
a punt-return score) and Colin Thompson (3-67). After TD No. 4, junior Nick Visco claimed the
city record with his 171st career PAT. As the game wound down, Thompson poured ice cubes
on John Shulby, a best buddy with Down syndrome and a three-year honorary captain. Dobbins’
best moment was Kareem Jefferson’s fumble recovery, at the 1, right before halftime.
2012
CLASS AAA
At Northeast
Wood 49, Bok 28
  Before sitting down early in the third quarter, Josh Messina rang up 14 tackles (eight solos, four
for losses) forced a fumble and picked off a pass as the Vikings captured their fifth consecutive CT.
He also ran for a TD. Jarrett McClenton zoomed to 217 yards on three consecutive touches,
thanks for runs of 69 and 56 yards (TD) and a 92-yard kickoff return for another score. Bok’s
Antoine Whitney generated 329 all-purpose yards – 13-87 rushing, 6-138 receiving, 6-87 kickoff
returns, 1-17 interception return – and tallied two TDs.
2013
CLASS AAA
At Northeast
Wood 52, King 8
  While storming to their sixth consecutive CT win, the Vikings scored on eight of their nine
first-half possessions and owned a 14-0 lead before King ran a play. Jake Cooper (passes from
Tom Garlick) and backup rusher Joe Dutkiewicz halved four TDs while Jarrett McClenton turned
seven carries into 74 yards and the game’s first TD. Dan McDonald went 7-for-7 on PAT while
adding a field goal. For King, Delane Hart made two catches for 87 yards to become the Pub’s
first receiver to accumulate 1,000 yards in one season (1,073). On kickoffs, he also made three
of King’s four fair catches. QB Joseph Walker ran or passed on 28 of King's 36 plays (77.8
percent), generating 117 of its 129 yards (90.7).
2014
CLASS AAA
At Northeast
Wood 42, Imhotep 34
  While winning their seventh consecutive AAA City Title, the Vikings finally experienced a
challenge. A 20-0 lead notwithstanding, victory wasn't assured until the waning moments when
Alex Arcangeli (20-105, TD) gained two yards on fourth-and-1. Jarrett McClenton ran 25 times
for 157 yards and four TDs; his 80-yarder capped a back-and-forth, three-TD explosion in the
final 34.7 seconds of the third quarter. For Imhotep, Andre Dreuit-Parks passed 16-for-26 for
299 yards and four TDs, thanks mostly to an electric performance by Denniston "DJ" Moore
(7-200, TDs of 88 and 71 yards in the fourth quarter). The Panthers were without their main
rusher, Tyliek Raynor (knee injury).
2016
CLASS AAAAA
At Northeast
Wood 61, Gratz 18
  Soph Jack Colyar broke the record for TD passes in a City Title with five . . . and did so quite
impressively, thank you. He owned the mark by the end of the first quarter, having gone 7-for-7
for 291 yards. Also, the scores averaged 55 yards with a long of 71 and a short of 45. He
finished 9-for-13 for 309, thanks primarily to Raheem "Speedy" Blackshear (2-116, two TDs),
Shawn Thompson (2-99, two) and Mark Webb (3-74, one). Thompson paced the ground attack
with seven totes for 132 yards and one score while Dan Zanine thumped seven PAT. For Gratz,
Qashah Carter produced 69 yards and one TD on eight carries, caught three passes for 31 yards,
returned a kickoff 91 yards for a score and even completed a pass for a 62-yard gain.
2017
CLASS AAAAA
At Northeast
Wood 36, Gratz 6
  The Vikings led by only 7-0 after the first quarter, so their path to a comfortable City Title win
was uncommon. So was this: None of the touchdowns covered a long distance. Nasir Peoples
rushed 23 times for 176 yards and four TDs and the longest were two eight-yarders. Chris
Blackstone chipped in a seven-yarder. Bob Hennessey pounded three PAT and a field goal
while Ryan Loughlin and Colin Murt posted picks. Desmen Murphy's fourth quarter rushing TD
enabled the Bulldogs to avoid a shutout and Amir Gillis passed 6-for-16 for 84 yards. Wood's
CT was its ninth in 10 years (lost to Imhotep in 2015).
2018
CLASS AAAAA
At Northeast
Wood 57, Gratz 6
  Yes, the offense was mighty impressive. But the defense got things started as Dylan
Urbanowski made a sack for a safety. Later, Brad Otto sped 74 yards to payturf with an
interception. Jack Colyar, playing in only his fourth game of the season due to injury, passed
12-for-14 for 148 yards and four TDs. The first, a 44-yard hookup with Jake Ross, was the
longest. Tom Santiago collected 59 yards and one TD on five rushes while adding an interception.
Brett Gross also was a member of the Pilfer Club. Rodneil Passapera tallied the Bulldogs'
six-pointer on a seven-yard keeper.
2019
CLASS AAAAA
At Northeast
  Wood 51, King 14: Ryan DiVergilis made two interceptions, Andrew McHugh scored on a punt return and Cardel Pigford turned 11 carries into 160 yards and two TDs.

STATE TITLES
2011
AAA
At Hersheypark Stadium
Wood 52, Harrisburg Bishop McDevitt 0
  Leaving behind late-playoffs frustration from 2008, '09 and '10, the Vikings frolicked to give
the Catholic League its third state title in as many years. First cousins Desmon (18-151, two)
and Brandon Peoples (16-172, three) combined for five rushing TDs. Desmon added two
interceptions while Andrew Guckin turned a third pick into a 75-yard TD and Joey Monaghan
passed to Nate Smith for a score. Nick Visco added seven PAT and a 41-yard field goal.
The Vikings (14-1) finished with 699 points, the No. 2 total in city history.
2013
AAA
At Hersheypark Stadium
Wood 22, Harrisburg Bishop McDevitt 10
  Jarrett McClenton set AAA title-game records for carries (40) and yards (238), and totaled
two TDs, as the Vikings overcame a sleepy first half (3-0 deficit, just one play for more than
10 yards) to capture their second state crown in three years. Wood's final points, increasing its
lead to 22-3, were scored when holder Cody Fitzpatrick controlled an errant snap and floated
a conversion pass to Christian Lohin. Chris Gary (two sacks), Jake Cooper and Luke Spahits
recorded six tackles apiece.
2014
AAA
At Hersheypark Stadium
Wood 33, Central Valley 14
  Jarrett McClenton scampered for 233 yards and four TDs on 26 carries as the Vikings seized
their second straight title and third in four years. The win was No. 98 for coach Steve Devlin
(in just 115 games). McClenton claimed the city record for rushing TDs in a season (37) and
tied the overall mark (42) while finalizing his career rushing numbers at 4,539/73. Overall,
he accumulated 506 points. In Wood's six postseason games in 2014, he scored four TDs in
five and three in the other while racking up 140 points. Alex Arcangeli added 131 yards on
16 rushes and a 7-yard TD on his final carry lifted his season total to 1,004. Devon Cobb
paced the defense with 1.5 sacks, two other TFL and a fumble recovery.
2016
AAAAA
At Hersheypark Stadium
Wood 37, Harrisburg 10
  For this one, Raheem "Speedy" Blackshear should have added nicknames such as "Brassy"
and "Gritty" while carrying the ball 35 times -- often on rugged runs between the tackles --
for 243 yards and three touchdowns, thus giving the Vikings their third state title in four
years and fourth in six. He added 74 yards on two returns and a 51-yarder off a punt placed
the ball at the 10 midway through the third quarter. Blackshear promptly ran untouched up
the middle for a 10-yard score, providing a 23-10 lead. Shawn Thompson also ran well,
turning 19 carries into 133 yards and one TD. Kyle Pitts tallied the first TD on a 10-yard
pass from Jack Colyar while Dan Zanine hit four PAT and a 26-yard field goal. Harrisburg's
only TD, a 71-yard pass, came on the second play of the game. Matt Palmer made nine
tackles while Nasir Peoples, Adrian Lambert and Tyler Smith thirded 24. Smith added a sack
and a forced fumble/recovery combo. Star wideout Mark Webb, though held snagless, soared
for an interception and recorded four pass deflections. Wood finished the season with 11
consecutive wins and coach Steve Devlin lifted his career record to 100 games above .500
-- 120-20-1.
2017
AAAAA
At Hersheypark Stadium
Wood 49, Gateway 14
  Championship games are supposed to provide non-stop challenges. Someone forgot to tell
the Vikings. While claiming their third state title in four seasons and fifth in seven, Wood barged
into the end zone on its first six possessions and needed to run more four plays on just two of
those drives. The far-and-away headliner was Nasir Peoples, who bulled/scooted for 267 yards
and four TDs on 25 carries. His longest score was a 68-yarder. Adrian Lambert added 98 yards
and two scores on 10 rushes while Kyle Pitts added a six-yard TD catch to two interceptions
and as many TFL. Matt Palmer made five tackles and Bill Shaeffer hustled for two sacks. For
Gateway, which surrendered the game's first 49 points, Brady Walker passed 12-for-27 for
257 yards and scores of 69 and 80 yards to Travis Thompson (5-172).
2019
FINAL
At Hersheypark Stadium
  Wood 19, Cheltenham 15: After Cheltenham seized its first lead, at 15-7, with exactly four
minutes remaining, the Vikings needed to cover 65 yards. They did so in 11 plays and,
amazingly, only one was a pass -- a 3-yard, left-slide slant from Max Keller to Cardel Pigford
at 0:04. The title was Wood's sixth over nine seasons and the first for second-year coach Kyle
Adkins, a two-way starter for the squad that started the dominance in 2011. The Vikings' first
six points came on field goals by long kicker Ryan Morgan (42 yards) and short kicker Robert
Meyer (22 yards). After Tom Pomponi recovered a fumble on the second half kickoff, Kaelin
Costello (38 carries, 275 yards) raced 29 yards for a score. Cheltenham, which won its first
district championship, was coached by Judge grad Ryan Nase.