Football: Donaghy, Hoff lead Red team to Hero Bowl victory

MARPLE >> Haverford High quarterback Jack Donaghy and Marple Newtown receiver Abel Hoff shared their excitement upon learning they would play on the same team at the 40th Delaware County Hero Bowl All-Star Game. One record-setting quarterback throwing to the county’s single-season reception leader. The possibilities seemed endless. Fans in attendance at Cardinal O’Hara were in for a treat.

“It’s really fun playing with a quarterback who is that good,” Hoff said. “He deserved every bit of the Delco (Daily Times) Player of the Year. I see tonight why he won, why he is so good.” Donaghy and Hoff connected right away.

“When we found out we were on the same team, we texted each other back and forth, saying that we were really excited about it,” Donaghy said. “There was almost a built-in chemistry between us in practice, and that sort of carried over into the game.”

Donaghy’s 9 of 13 passing for 208 yards and three touchdowns led the Red team to a 28-23 victory over the Blue squad in Thursday’s Hero Bowl. Donaghy was named offensive MVP of his squad, while Haverford School All-Delco linebacker Mickey Kober earned MVP honors on defense. Taking home the MVP awards for the Blue team were Upper Darby wide receiver Brandon Morton and Penn Wood lineman Jordan Johnson. Ultimately, the Hero Bowl is all about its tremendous cause every year. Proceeds from the event benefit the Hero Scholarship Fund of Delaware County, Inc., which provides scholarship support to the children of police officers, firefighters and emergency medical personnel who have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty.

“We wanted to come out here and respect the tradition, respect ourselves and respect the other team,” said Hoff, who caught a pair of Donaghy passes for touchdowns. He had four receptions for 113 yards and five carries for 28 yards. “Everyone really took the game seriously. We know that in the past, there was some fighting and stuff, so we wanted to play a clean game.”

When Hoff was younger, he would attend the Hero Bowl every year and dream about the chance of one day playing in the game.

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Haverford High quarterback Jack Donaghy — the 2015 Daily Times Player of the Year — passed for over 200 yards with three touchdowns to lead the Red team to a 28-23 victory over the Blue squad in the 40th Delaware County Hero Bowl All-Star Game at Cardinal O’Hara Thursday night. Donaghy earned offensive MVP honors for his team. (Robert Gurecki/Daily Times)