Cunningham Keeps Football Career Alive

Written by: Willie McGonigle on Sunday, November 16th, 2008. Follow Willie McGonigle on Twitter.

PHILADELPHIA: As it stands now upon graduation from Archbishop Wood High School in June Sr. Sean Cunningham would not step on the gridiron again as he’s has a half scholarship to play lacrosse at Drexel University where he will play long pole midfielder for Dragons. Cunningham hopes to pursue a career in engineering. With that in mind the 6 foot 200 pound Cunningham still wants to play football and made sure is high school career didn’t come to end as he churned out 109 yards on 15 carries and four touchdowns and broke the schools record must rushing yards in a single season as his Vikings easily cruised pass the Murrell Dobbins Mustangs 56-7 in Saturday’s District XII AAA Championship played at Northeast’s Charles Martin Stadium. Cunningham still hopes to play football in college and is receiving interest from Division 1AA schools such as Richmond, Holy Cross, and Colgate. “I just don’t want to give it up” is what Cunningham said asked about football.

A fumble by Derek Clark on the games first play from scrimmage would set up the first Vikings touchdown which come compliments of a 24 yard pass to Anthony Narisi from Sean McCartney. James McFadden would add the extra point giving the Vikings the 7-0 lead.

The Mustangs would respond on the ensuing drive when Terrell Barringer would keep the ball on a option and raced down his sideline for 76 yard touchdown. Anthony Walker would add the extra point to tie things up at 7 with 9:57 left in the first quarter.

From that point on Cunningham took over on the ensuing Viking drive Cunningham would give the Vikings the lead for good with his 5 yard touchdown run. McFadden would add the extra point giving the Vikings the 14-7 lead. Cunningham’s next two carries would produce touchdowns from two and six yards out to extend the Vikings lead to 28-7 at the end of one quarter play.

After the Mustangs couldn’t get a punt off that resulted in the Vikings getting possession at the Mustangs one yard line McCartney would sneak his way in from a yard out. McFadden would add the extra point extending the Vikings lead to 35-7. McCartney would finish the game completing 5 of 6 passes for 128 yards and a touchdown through the air to go along with his 13 yards rushing on 4 carries.

Cunningham would cap the first half scoring with his 19 yard touchdown run that saw him juke a few Mustangs defenders on his way to the score. McFadden would add the extra point evoking the 35 point mercy rule at the half. When asked about the breaking the schools rushing record that was set in 2003 by Bryan McCartney who rushed for 1417 that season. Cunningham responded “The record means a lot I grew up watching Bryan in grade school, I owe all to my line and full back Nick Devine, if it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t even came close to the record.” Bryan just happens to be the older brother of the Vikings current signal caller Sean. When asked about Cunningham Sean McCartney responded saying “He’s a great kid he’s always striding to do his best, always working hard and its well deserve.”
The Vikings would extend their lead of the opening drive of the second half when Devine would bust through the Mustang defense from 21 yards out. McFadden would add the extra point making it 49-7. Sean Cain would cap the scoring on the day with his 8 yard touchdown run. Cain would add the extra point giving the Vikings the 56-7 victory.

With the victory the Vikings become the first team in schools history to capture the District title and will keep Cunningham’s career alive for at least two more weeks when they will face the District 1 champion who will either be Upper Moreland or Bayard Rustin . “He’s the heart and soul of the team, if you ever spend sometime with him you’ll see the type of kid he is and the person he’s going to be and the leader he is and he’s a pleasure to coach I hope he never graduates I want to keep him here at Wood forever” is how Viking head coach Steve Devlin described Cunningham

Archbishop Wood 28 14 7 7 56
Murrell Dobbins 7 0 0 0 7
First Quarter
AW Narisi 24 yard pass from McCartney McFadden Kick 10:23
Dobb Barringer 76 yard run Walker Kick 9:57
AW Cunningham 5 yard run McFadden Kick 6:26
AW Cunningham 2 yard run McFadden Kick 3:55
AW Cunningham 6 yard run McFadden Kick :30
Second Quarter
AW McCartney 1 yard run McFadden Kick 11:31
AW Cunningham 22 19 yard run McFadden Kick 6;21
Third Quarter
AW Devine 21 yard Run McFadden Kick 6:18
Fourth Quarter
AW Cain 8 yard Run Cain Kick
Rushing
Wood: Cunningham 15-109, Devine 4-53, Adkins 1-10, McCartney 4-13, Monaghan 3-8, Cain 3-3, McGrath 2-49
Dobbins: James 10-52, Clark 8-34, Barringer 7-78, Walker 3-4, Lesile 1-2
Passing Completions Attempts, yards TDs Int
Wood: McCartney 5-6-128-1-0
Dobbins Barringer 2-5-0-0-0
Receiving
Wood: Maxwell 2-56, Furlong 1-41, Narisi 1-24, Devine 1-7
Dobbins Walker 1-4, Clark 1–4
AW Dobb
First Downs 12 4
Rushes/yards 30-245 29-170
Completions/yards 5-128 2-0
Total Yards 373 170
Punts/ Average 1-37 4-16.75
Fumbles/Lost 0-2 3-2
Penalties/ Yards 2-0 1-5

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One Response to “Cunningham Keeps Football Career Alive”

1. Joe Earl says:
   November 16th, 2008 at 9:12 pm

   Wood is the REAL deal!!!!Very balanced, big upfront and tough. Teams in the east should be worried about the Vikings!!