Springfield’s Magic Hands Man

John Ciurlino secretly has prided himself o his great hands.

The Springfield senior offensive tackle/defensive end was actually a slot receiver his freshman and sophomore years at Springfield. Adding about 20 pounds changed all of that, moving him to the offensive and defensive line.

Ciurlino didn’t think he’d have much use for his hands the last few years, other than blocking and tackling. But 6-foot-2, 210-pound Ciurlino put his magic hands to good use Friday night in a crucial Central League game against Garnet Valley.

For the first, and possibly the last time, Ciurlino intercepted a pass in the second quarter, which led to a Cougars’ touchdown.

“It was just a reaction, I got my guy quicker and I saw the quarterback rolling away from me, and he pivoted back toward me, and ran back toward the receiver out there in the flat,” Ciurlino said. “I tipped it and the ball was right there and I grabbed it and pulled it in. I almost didn’t believe I caught it. I got about five or 10 yards out of it.”

Ciurlino had no time to celebrate, because he had to go right back out on offense.

“Coach [Tom] Kline pointed to me after the play, and I pointed the ball to him, and he congratulated me and he said I worked hard for it,” Ciurlino said. “I don’t know if it will ever happen again. There is always an opportunity to pick off another pass again. I almost feel like it was luck this time.”

Ciurlino should know better than to call it luck. He does, after all, possess the magic hands of a receiver.