Football: Haverford High quarterback Jack Donaghy is Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week

Donaghy, a junior quarterback for the Fords, threw three touchdown passes in Haverford’s 28-12 win against Upper Darby on Thanksgiving. Donaghy led Delaware County high school passers in yardage for the season, throwing for 1,633 yards and 19 touchdown passes. The junior also is the starting point guard for the Haverford boys’ basketball team. Off the field (and court), he is an officer of his junior class at Haverford, and is a member of the National Honor Society and National Business Honors Society. He also received an interesting video from actor Alec Baldwin on his 13th birthday (see below).

Q: What play in the 28-12 victory against Upper Darby was most memorable to you – can you tell us a little about that play, and your role in it?

A: My favorite play probably had to be the fourth down conversion late in the first half that led to a touchdown to put us up 14-6. We had ran the play previously in the drive and did not complete the pass, but our coaches saw that it was open that time; so we came back to it and thankfully completed the pass in order to maintain the drive.

Q: Who is your favorite football player and why? Who is your favorite quarterback and why? Is there a player whose game you try to pattern your own after?

A: My favorite football player would have to be Nick Foles, but not simply because he is an Eagle. He is humble, and goes out every Sunday and performs to his greatest potential. I try to model my game after Johnny Manziel at Texas A&M. He was constantly improvising and making plays to help his team win.

Q: What first sparked your interest in the quarterback position? Who have been your top quarterback mentors, and what has been the most important thing each of them taught you?

A: As a little kid I always wanted to be a quarterback because you were a part of every play and a leader of the offense. My top quarterback mentors have probably been Mr. [Justin] Mellor, who is now the head coach of Harriton, our quarterback coach Mr. [Jack] O’Donnell, who has taught me not only the necessary tools to be a successful quarterback, but also is constantly stressing being an even better person through being respectful, considerate, and having integrity. He has even helped me with chemistry during practice. Also, Kevin McGee has helped me mature as a quarterback during the off-season.

Q: What colleges are among your current favorites? What do you think you’d like to major in? Is there a career path that currently interests you?

A: I am interested in the United States Military Academy. I have an interest in economics as well as sports medicine, so I will most likely pursue one of those careers.

Jack Donaghy’s favorites

Book: Kite Runner.

Author: Suzanne Collins.

TV show: Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.

Pre-game pump-up song: Mockingbird.

Athlete: Ray Allen.

Historical figure (past or present): “Magic Johnson because he had to deal with tons of adversity, but remained humble and mentally tough through the whole process.’

Team: Philadelphia Eagles.

Place to visit: The Wildwoods.

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