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FOOTBALL: Battle of Non-League Juggernauts, La Salle Edges Undermanned Malvern Prep

By John Knebels (photos by Kathy Leister), 09/13/19, 12:15AM EDT

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By: John Knebels (videos: by John Knebels)

Photos:by Kathy Leister

SPRINGFIELD – In the grand scheme, this was nothing more than a non-league showdown between two of the strongest football teams in the Delaware Valley.

So, when La Salle jogged off the field after defeating Malvern Prep, 24-13, September 7 at Montgomery County’s Springfield High School, the undefeated Explorers celebrated their victory with an appropriate perspective.

“A ton of credit to Malvern,” said La Salle first-team All-Catholic senior linebacker Dillon Trainer. “A great team, great program, lot of tradition, a lot of history. They came to play today. Every single down, play in and play out, they started smacking.

“It was awesome for us. We responded with the same amount of physicality. To survive in this league and in this area against these teams, that’s something you need.”

La Sallle senior LB Dillion Trainer talks about the Explorers' win over Malvern Prep.

Meanwhile, Malvern Prep coach Dave Gueriera extolled his troops during an animated post-game pep talk, and for good reason. Despite playing with a freshman quarterback – Bryce Pippen – making his first-ever varsity start and minus a couple of players on defense, the Friars (0-2) gave the Explorers everything they could handle, and then some.

Malvern Prep's Steven Rose scores touchdown keeping Friars close. La Salle leads 10-6.

30-yard field goal by La Salle senior Jake Gandolfo.

Trailing 10-6 on a 39-yard pass from senior quarterback Jack Machita (12 for 22, 152 yards) to sophomore standout Sam Brown (148 yards rushing and 46 receiving) and a 30-yard field goal by first-team All-Catholic senior Jake Gandolfo, the Friars hushed the La Salle zealots when Pippen squeezed into the end zone from the one-foot line to give Malvern a 13-10 lead with 25 seconds left in the third quarter. A 53-yard completion to senior Kellen Mathias helped set up the go-ahead tally.

After defeating both of their earlier juggernaut opponents (Imhotep Charter and North Penn) by scores of 15-12 and 42-6, respectively, the Explorers faced a major challenge with one quarter remaining.  

A program with aspirations of eventually knocking St. Joseph’s Prep from its perch atop the Catholic League Red Division, La Salle responded immediately. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Brown (five touchdowns against North Penn) busted loose down the left sideline for a 73-yard touchdown run.

Malvern Prep's Bryce Pippen scores on a sneak to give the Friars a 13-10 lead.

La Salle's Sam Brown talks about his big touchdown.

The Explorers’ defense did the rest. And when senior Brad Vespe pounded home from the one-yard line late in the fourth, a two-score deficit was too much for Malvern to overcome.

Malvern Prep's JT Roberts says offense and defense go hand-in-hand.

Malvern Prep's Caimin Hayes lauds his team's efforts and looks forward to improve.

Malvern Prep's Isaac White appreciates his team's perseverance

“We played really tough,” said Malvern senior safety/receiver Isaac White. “I feel like our team has the toughest pre-Inter-Ac schedule. Games like this, when we saw how gritty we really are, is gonna help us tremendously in the Inter-Ac.”

 

(Contact John Knebels at Jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter @johnknebels.)

For more gameday photos of the La Salle vs. Malvern Prep Game (click here).