"Probably one to Colin Buckley," he said, referring to the star senior wideout. "We've been together for so long. I started out throwing to him, and now it's ending up with him."
As a seventh-grader, Magarity was the part-time QB for a regional CYO squad based at St. Genevieve, in Flourtown. He achieved one-and-only status as an eighth-grader, then put in his time at La Salle before becoming a 2-year varsity starter.
His career numbers now show 209 completions in 385 attempts (54 percent) for 2,997 yards and 37 touchdowns.
Nice, but can he remember his very first pass?
"Pretty sure it was against Plymouth-Whitemarsh [in 2009]," Magarity said yesterday, before the Explorers practiced on the turf at that very same school.
It was.
"And I think I completed it," he said.
Right again.
"A little waggle pass out in the flat."
We don't have the film, but we'll trust him on that one.
Back then, Magarity had no idea he'd even emerge as a factor, let alone reach lofty heights.
His family's mark, after all, had been made in basketball, and that was still the sport that warmed Matt's heart, even though he'd left it behind.
"I always liked the team atmosphere of football," he said. "The way everyone had to come together. But basketball was my favorite because of all the improvisation. Now, I'm getting to do some of that in football because they let me call some audibles."
Looonnng-time followers of Catholic League sports will recognize the Magarity name in the basketball context. His uncle, Bill, was a starting guard for La Salle's 1963 champions and others (Greg, Joe, Mark, Jake) also played the sport. On another branch of the family tree, cousin Bill paced Cardinal Dougherty to the '70 crown and later became an all-timer in Sweden as a player and coach.
Matt's dad, Mike, a k a "Meek," favored cross country, however, and in '72 placed third overall while leading La Salle to - you got it - a CL title.
