By: John Knebels
Photos: Thomas Nemec, Geanine Jamison & Zamani Feelings
Inter-Academic League Football Round-up (Week of 10/12)
Folk Snares Game-Winning Touchdown to Lift EA
PHILADELPHIA – Malcolm Folk will never forget it. No matter how much football he plays in the future, the Episcopal Academy junior’s game-winning touchdown catch will be forever emblazoned in his mind and heart.
Trailing host Penn Charter by a field goal, Folk reached up and snared a 14-yard scoring toss from senior quarterback Marcus McDaniel with 32 seconds remaining in regulation, clinching a 21-17, comeback victory over the stunned Quakers Saturday afternoon in an Inter-Academic League classic opener.
“When our Coach (Todd Fairlie) called the play in, I pretty much knew I was getting the ball,” said Folk. “I just told Marcus to just put it in a spot where I could go get it, and he did a great job of doing so under pressure. I just came down with the ball.”
Of all his many athletic accomplishments, said Folk, this was incomparable.
“This definitely was the highlight of my high school career,” said Folk. “I’ve been a part of big games when I played youth ball for the Downingtown Young Whippets. This was my biggest high school accomplishment because I was able to help my brothers beat a tough Penn Charter team that we have not beaten in six years.”
Episcopal vs. Penn Charter - PSD Photos by Thomas Nemec
Nerves, said Folk, didn’t play any part of the big scoring connection.
“I was confident that if Marcus put the ball anywhere near me, I was going to go get it,” he said.“Now our thoughts turn to this week’s game against a strong Springside Chestnut Hill team.”
McDaniel wasn’t surprised by the outcome.
“Malcolm and I, we developed a connection we have worked on for years,” said McDaniel. “Our trust and bond we have created is just so strong, and our entire team’s will is undeniable. Because of this, we all were confident. We were in a score-to-win or score-to-tie situation, and in this case, we came away with a winning mentality.”
Senior Matt Bush, known more for his work as an excellent linebacker, contributed a career-best game on the ground with 97 yards on 16 carries.
PC Dual-Varsity Standout Bradby Comes Up Big in Defeat
Penn Charter lost the game, but with 32 seconds left in the second quarter, senior Ryan Bradby connected on a 43-yard field goal to give the Quakers a 10-7 lead. While Bradby would obviously trade the individual highlight for a team victory, he admitted that the kick was special.
Penn Charter senior kicker Ryan Bradby kicked a career long 43-yard field goal vs. Episcopal - Photo by Zamani Feelings
“Yeah, the field goal was awesome,” said Bradby. “There was not too much wind, so it wasn’t a huge factor. It was my career long. Before that, it was 41 yards (sophomore year at Haverford). It was pretty exciting watching it go through the uprights.
“I was feeling really good about my distance in warm-ups when I was making almost all of my kicks through the uprights between 40 and 50 yards out, so I knew I was capable of making it. Coach (Tom) Coyle had confidence in me, and it was a really good feeling knowing I was able to help the team out in a really close game like that.”
Bradby doubles as an all-league soccer player.
“It’s a great experience,” he said. “It’s all about time management. I’m always running around after school bouncing from soccer to football practice or vice versa. I enjoy it a lot, though.”
Now Healthy, GA’s Vance Makes the Most of His Return
Germantown Academy’s Trae Vance has encountered a bittersweet first half of the football season. An injured shoulder prevented him from competing in the first five contests, but his teammates mollified his disappointment by going 5-0.
The second-team, all-league running back, who rushed for 1,103 yards and nine touchdowns last year, this coming off a sophomore season during which he collected 422 yards and six scores, returned to action on Saturday. Although the Patriots dropped a 33-21 decision to visiting Malvern Prep, Vance rushed for 53 yards and scored on a two-yard run with 54 seconds left in the game.
Vance has already committed to play at Howard University next fall.
“Coming back was really exciting,” said Vance. “With the type of injury I had, I felt like I was ready to go weeks ago but for safety, I was just recently cleared. Playing my first game this year, and that game being an Inter-Ac game, it took some getting used to. The game speed, I mean. I was told I ran pretty well, but I feel like I could do even better.
GA vs. MP - PSD Photos by Geanine Jamison
“Even though we lost the game, I have confidence that the team will prevail in the long run. We just have to keep our heads up and play like we lost our minds.”
SCH and Malvern Prep Notch Victories
Undefeated Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (6-0, 1-0) used a 14-point third quarter en route to a 28-23 win over visiting Haverford School. Junior quarterback A.J. Graham completed 17 of 22 passes for 245 yards and three touchdowns, including a pair caught by senior Ke’Shawn Williams(12 receptions for 132 yards) . . . For Haverford School, senior Jack Cloran scored two touchdowns . . .
Malvern Prep tallied 19 points in the second quarter and added 14 more in the second, defeating host Germantown Academy, 33-21. Junior quarterback Lonnie White completed 9 of 16 passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns, a 21-yarder to senior John Gordon and a 19-yard strike to senior Tyler Tinson. White also rushed for 133 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. Sophomore teammate Isaiah Wright scored on a 12-yard run.
Game highlights - Germantown Academy vs. Malvern Prep - Videos by Geanine Jamison
Aaron Rascoe runs it in to put SCHA up 28-10 vs. Haverford School in the 3rd QTR. By Thomas Nemec
Predictions
Because of league parity, it’s almost impossible to get these correct. Let’s go with Malvern Prep stopping Penn Charter, 26-20 . . . Germantown Academy nipping Haverford School, 19-17 . . . and, as mentioned in our Inter-Ac Game of the Week, Episcopal edging Springside Chestnut Hill, 20-16.
Last Week: 2-1
Season: 2-1