IT'S ALWAYS NICE to know guys in high places. But don't expect Tim Wade to take advantage.
Yes, his uncle, Joe Wade, is the new offensive coordinator for La Salle High's football team. And Tim, a 5-9, 185-pound senior tailback, is the primary rusher. But the offensive play-calling is never going to sound like this broken record: Run for Wade . . . run for Wade . . . run for Wade . . .
You get the idea. (Unless you're too young to even know what a record is).
"All I want to do is help the team," Tim Wade said. "We have a great quarterback and linemen and receivers and passing is always a big part of what we do. When I do get runs, I just want to make the best of them."
In a non-league game last night at Springfield Montco that seemed to take forever, in part due to 22 penalties (for 210 yards), Wade turned 24 carries into 130 yards and a 13-yard touchdown as the Explorers bested West Catholic, 24-0.
Joe Wade, a veteran assistant, became the offensive coordinator when Brett Gordon, son of coach Drew Gordon, stepped away from X-and-O duties.
"Brett Gordon did a phenomenal job," Tim said. "My uncle had a great role to fill and I'm proud of the job he's doing. He has really stepped up."
In earlier years, Joe, who lives in Perkasie, often drove home Tim (Doylestown) from practice. But Tim, formerly the fullback and a 3-year starter, now has his license.
When Tim was asked whether he enjoyed those ol' journeys, he laughed and shot back, "Kinda . . . Yes and no . . . Hard to tell."
He added, "There was a lot of football talk. Whatever he said - and he could be tough - I knew it was only because he wanted the best for me."
Speaking of tough . . .
La Salle, last week, fell to Bergen Catholic, of North Jersey, 41-17.
"This week, we had our hardest practices of the year," Tim said. "We were all very disappointed with how we played. It's one thing to lose. We really thought we got beat up. We weren't physical enough. Weren't intense enough. We worked as hard as we could all week because we never want to have that feeling again."
Matt Magarity passed 11-for-22 for 160 yards and one score apiece to Colin Buckley and Sean Coleman (5-92), and Ryan Winslow hit a 22-yard field goal. The grunts were center Connor Kerrigan, guards Pat Hoffman and Tom Spiteri, and tackles Dan Wasylenko and Matt Maginnis. Mike Piscopo lined up at tight end and made two catches for 51 yards.
Ryan Otis had an interception, and West managed just 134 yards.
So far, Tim Wade has received interest - email, at that - only from Division III schools.
"I'm not paying much attention to that stuff right now," he said. "I'm just doing my best and we'll see what happens. If something comes up, it comes up.
"My parents [Michele, Tim] want me to get the most out of senior year. They're saying I should wrestle - I did that when I was younger - and play lacrosse. I don't know about wrestling. I might at least try lacrosse."
Online high school coverage at philly.com/rally.
