Played with broken hand, also a lax star: Meet Matt O'Donnell, Cardinal Spellman's new QB1
BROCKTON − Several big holes were left when Jack Duffy, a current Colby College running back, graduated from the Cardinal Spellman High football team at last season's end.
Quarterback was the biggest one, despite Duffy also suiting up as de facto running back and as both kicker and punter, while also playing a key role on defense.
The Cardinals are no stranger to sliding one of their best athletes into the QB1 spot. They'll do so again in 2023.
Enter senior Matt O'Donnell, who, by fall, is a perennial starter at outside linebacker and receiver and, by springtime, is a lacrosse star who has scored more than 100 goals in his standout career: As a junior, he scored 68 goals and made 22 assists as an Enterprise All-Scholastic and Catholic Central League All-Star selection.
“We’re really excited for him. He’s a smart kid. He does all the right things," said co-head coach Ryan Donovan, who primarily oversees the offense. "I think he’s going to have a big season.”
O'Donnell pulled ahead in the quarterback competition during 7-on-7 sessions in the summer, but that doesn't mean he'll relinquish his defensive responsibilities. He said he wears the two-way label with pride.
"I've always been a defensive guy, all through youth," he said. "I love defense. Just because I'm playing quarterback, I'm still going to run hard, still going to do everything I was doing."
It's a bonus O'Donnell still wants to play on both sides. For the Spellman roster, it's a necessity.
“Being a smaller school and not necessarily having the numbers some of the bigger schools do, sometimes you have to play Iron-Man football. We put our best athletes on the field," Donovan said. "It’s a grind, but he’s a kid who’s been working all offseason. He’s ready to go.”
More: What did you do this summer? This Oliver Ames football player helped those in need
Late last season, O'Donnell broke his left hand (his non-throwing hand) in a freak accident contesting in pass coverage on defense during practice. While recovering, he participated in walk-throughs on the scout team. He returned to action by the postseason and was playing in the Cardinals' most pivotal games with a cast on, most notably the Div. 6 Final Four matchup against Stoneham, only as an outside linebacker.
“Ninety-nine percent of kids are going to sit out the rest of the season, but he’s tough as nails. Kid’s a gamer," Donovan said. "Love to have him on our side.”
O'Donnell said the first doctor he saw asked if he wanted to have surgery on it.
"I went to a different doctor and they said I didn’t need surgery," he said. "So, they casted me up and I had to wrap it and play defense. It was definitely different, but it was all right. I learned how to play with it.”
O'Donnell will be learning on the fly once again as he builds passing-game chemistry with standout receivers Jay Comeau and D'Anthony Amado.
“I knew it was definitely going to be different, but I was excited for the new change," O'Donnell said. "I like getting the ball in my hands every play. I kept at it, kept practicing, but I’m getting there one step at a time.”
2022 recap
Former Cardinals head coach Kahn Chace resigned midway through the 2022 season, citing "parent harassment and disrespect." At that point, the team had a 2-3 record. Spellman proceeded to qualify for the Div. 6 postseason as the No. 13 seed and advance to the Final Four before falling to top-seeded Stoneham, 24-17, and finishing 5-7 overall.
Names to know
Matt O'Donnell, senior, quarterback/linebacker.
Jay Comeau, senior, receiver.
D'Anthony Amado, senior, receiver/cornerback.
More: Predicting the winners of every Week 1 South Shore high school football game
Marvin Petit-Frere, senior, lineman.
Umarei Murray, junior, running back/linebacker.
Ryan Kennedy, senior, lineman.
Evan Malick, senior, lineman.
Chris Soto, sophomore, linebacker.
They said it
Co-coach Jequan Johnson on 2022 run to Final Four: “It hurt to lose. It hurt a lot. That’s the drive. That’s the focus, to be right back in that position again.”
Donovan on being co-head coach with Johnson: “We love it. We have personalities that fit each other. We’re both laid back, and we have different ways in going about things, but it always seems to work. He focuses a lot on the defense, we pick each other’s brains and I focus a lot on the offense. We’re bouncing off each other, and we have a fantastic staff overall.”
Cardinal Spellman 2023 schedule
Friday, Sept. 8 − at Sandwich, 6 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 15 − vs. Martha's Vineyard, 6 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 22 − at Bishop Stang, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 30 − at Cathedral, 11 a.m.
Friday, Oct. 6 − vs. Bishop Fenwick, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 13 − vs. Bishop Feehan, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 20 − vs. St. Mary's (Lynn), 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 27 − at Arlington Catholic, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 22 − vs. Archbishop Williams, 6 p.m.
This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Cardinal Spellman High football to put a standout athlete at QB again
