The “Pick Six” - a turning point for two, premiere running backs, a backup quarterback and a dominant two-way player. PSD’s “Pick Six” highlights personal achievements, team highlights and unbiased turning points of our weekly Inter-Ac League teams in their previously played games.
Photos By: Mike Nance, James Williamson, Lennie Malmgren & James Quinn
By: Rich Flanagan
Pick One: Allen Continues Torrid Rushing Pace
Germantown Academy bounced back from a crushing, one-point loss to Episcopal Academy with an emphatic 37-15 victory over Springside Chestnut Hill Academy on Saturday. The catalyst, as has been the case for the entire season, was senior running back Brian Allen.
The 5-foot-11, 180-pound back racked up 180 yards on 26 carries and three touchdowns against the Blue Devils. Allen has rushed for over 100 yards in all six games for the Patriots (4-2, 1-1 Inter-Ac) this season. While junior quarterback Tristan Machado has made timely throws and moved the ball downfield, everything Germantown Academy wants to do starts with running the football.
Head coach Matt Dence has seen the talent that Allen possesses for four years but never imagined he would be excelling at this level.
“We knew we had a good player but if he had a normal football career, people would have heard more about him,” Dence said. “The fact that he’s lining up himself through six games as a great back in one season, we didn’t know he would be that good. It’s a credit to him and our offensive line.”
Allen leads the Inter-Ac in every major statistical rushing category including yards (1,035), carries (132) and touchdowns (11). He’s the first Germantown Academy player to rush for over 1,000 yards in a single season since Trey Vance in 2018. He’s also the first Patriots running back with 10 rushing touchdowns in a season since Reed Marko, who had 15 in 2007. Marko rushed for a then single-game, city-record 453 yards against East Pennsboro. The Germantown Academy single-season rushing record is held by Alex Holcombe, who rushed for 1,765 yards in 2006. Holcombe was a High School All-American in the decathlon and was a member of the track and field team at Cornell.
The success Allen is having on the ground is even more impressive when considering he missed his entire sophomore season with an injury then played behind Lacey Snowden, who rushed for 888 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2019, the last two seasons.
Dence feels if he had not missed that sophomore campaign, he may be even better than he is now.
“He was hurt his whole sophomore year, which is that year of growth,” Dence said. “Even as a freshman, we could tell he was going to be really good. Last year, he only had four games and played behind Lacey, who was an all-time great back. He was a starting corner for us last year.”
His 180-yard performance comes on the heels of his career-high 229 against the Churchmen two weeks ago. Allen’s rushing ability has slowed the game down and, more importantly, tired opposing defenses out. The Patriots have only punted the ball three times over the last two games.
Germantown Academy junior QB Tristan Machado in game vs. Springside Chestnut Hill Academy. (photo/James Quinn for PSD)
Germantown senior RB Brian Allen in game vs. Springside Chestnut Hill Academy. (photo/James Quinn for PSD)
Allen is running behind a seasoned offensive line led by senior center Brendan Donnelly, the Drexel lacrosse commit, left guard Jack Brookman, a two-year starter, Coulten Grasela, a three-year starter, and Donny Lattanze and Sean Spinosa, both of whom are four-year starters. That line has allowed the Patriots to average 228.8 rushing yards per game so far this season, far and away the best in the Inter-Ac.
Not only are they opening running lanes for Allen but also for a host of other backs.
“We’re running the ball extremely well,” Dence said. “Brian is an exceptional back. Taj Dyches has been the primary number two. Anthony Lara is a super-fast, east-to-west back and Sean Knox is the power back. We’ve really started to use more than Brian but it all starts up front with our five senior linemen.”
Dyches has rushed for 182 yards and three scores. He tallied 40 rushing yards and a touchdown against Episcopal Academy. Lara, a 5-8 sophomore, had 46 yards on the ground against Rock Creek Christian Academy (Md.) earlier this season.
The offense is dictated on the success of the running game and Allen is spearheading that effort for Germantown Academy, which heads into a big matchup at Malvern Prep on Friday.
Pick Two: Wright Not Slowing Down in Win over Fords
That split second Isaiah Wright now takes to see a rushing lane develop instead of bursting through has made a world of a difference. Malvern Prep (5-2, 2-0) boasts the biggest and most stout offensive line in the Inter-Ac and that unit is flourishing. As that unit goes, so does Wright but the change is his running style from his junior season has been so important.
“I’m definitely more patient in finding holes to run and allowing it to open up,” Wright said. “In the past, I would just run through or not wait to see what was happening.”
The 5-foot-8 senior running back rushed for 145 yards on 30 carries and a touchdown in the Friars’ 24-13 win over the Haverford School on Friday night. His nine rushing touchdowns this season are second in the league. Two weeks ago, he rushed for a career-high 248 yards against the Quakers then received a heavy dose of carries versus the Fords.
Wright has been getting to the second level and outrunning defensive backs and safeties this season. That is largely attributed to the play of 6-3, 285-pound Maryland commit Coltin Deery, 6-6, 300-pound Harvard commit Max Bowman, 6-5, 290-pound sophomore Peter Jones and the burly Friars offensive line.
“They move people and it’s a great site when you see a guy like Coltin moving a player down to the linebacker,” Wright said. “It creates a big hole and I just follow that block. That’s where I’m finding my success.”
He has run the ball 53 times over the last two weeks to open Inter-Ac play and that dosage is expected to continue with the success he is having. After Lonnie White, now in the Pittsburgh Pirates farm system, graduated, head coach Dave Gueriera knew production was going to have to come from other areas, particularly the backfield, and Wright has been that go-to guy this season.
“He just said, ‘Be ready for a heavy run year.’” Wright said. “We lost Lonnie who was a great player and outside threat. Someone had to step up and Coach Gueriera looked to me as a leader.”
Malvern senior RB Isaiah Wright is finding his lane and leadership on the field. (photo/Mike Nance for PSD)
Malvern Prep vs. Haverford School. (game highlights James Williamson)
He has accumulated 693 yards on 126 carries and is inching closer to the 1,000-yard mark, a milestone White set in 2019. Friday’s matchup with Germantown Academy will be a good barometer on where they still need to improve. One thing is for sure: the running game has been superb through seven games and that’s all Wright.
“Coach Gueriera preaches, ‘Be comfortable being uncomfortable,’” Wright said. “I need to be a leader and push guys.”
Malvern Prep's Coltin Deery talks about the friendly rivalry between Haverford School. (video/James Williamson)
Malvern Prep senior LB/TE Ryan Davis said he was proud of his defense's performance (PSD Video by James Williamson)
Pick Three: Rayborn Shows Out in First Career Start Under Center
When Jake Fant went down with an injury and had to exit the game against Germantown Academy, that feeling of dread that comes with losing a starting quarterback began to creep into the minds of Episcopal Academy players. Instead of allowing it to consume them, they turned to their new starter in sophomore Na’rome Rayborn to lead them to victory.
Prior to being thrust into the game against the Churchmen, Rayborn, who began the season as a starting defensive back, was sent down to the JV team to be the starting quarterback and gain experience there. Head coach Todd Fairlie “wanted me to play some JV and get some reps at quarterback,” Rayborn says.
Rayborn started three games, all wins, and earned a newfound understanding on how to play a position he was previously unaccustomed to playing.
“It was really good to play the position that I think I’m better at,” Rayborn said. “That has really prepared me and given me confidence going into these last two games.”
He led a come-from-behind victory with a touchdown pass to Bryce Cooper with 49 seconds left then threw a strike to TJ Cadden for a two-point conversion to seal a 29-28 win. Last week, he made his first varsity start at quarterback and threw for 129 yards and two touchdowns in lifting his team to a 26-20 victory over Penn Charter, another comeback triumph.
Rayborn's final drive to TJ Cadden for EA's winning TD in game vs. Penn Charter.(video/Rich Flanagan)
On Episcopal Academy’s final drive, he found Cadden for a 22-yard scoring touchdown with 1:18 left to play. Earlier in the drive, he found junior wideout TJ Lamb, who finished with seven receptions for 79 yards and touchdown, for 18 yards to keep the drive alive for the Churchmen (5-2, 2-0).
Rayborn wasn’t a slouch at corner but what he is doing at quarterback is surprising people, including himself.
“I’m learning a lot about myself and how I’m able to rise up in certain occasions,” Rayborn said. “I’ve been very happy with the last two games and the outcomes. Obviously, it’s not the position you want to be placed with our starter going down but he and the other coaches have really helped me and given me insight into what I can do to lead the team to victory.”
He showed a lot of what he had learned after the Quakers had taken the lead on a fumble return touchdown. He put together a 63-yard drive, including a 17-yard completion to Lamb on 4th down on his team’s side of the field. A few players later, running back Andrew McMeekin (46 rushing yards) took in a four-year score to tie the game.
Rayborn has taken command of the offense and, as he prepares for Saturday’s matchup with Springside Chestnut Hill, he has done it through tutelage from Fant and the coaching staff.
“Jake has been such a great mentor,” Rayborn said. “A lot of times, coaches will give me advice on the smallest details such as mixing up how my feet are aligned so that when I catch the ball from the center I can take a better, three-step drop. It has really helped me build confidence and be able to play the position much better than I would have if I did not have their help.”
Episcopal Sophomore Na'rome Rayborn is finding his way as QB for the Churchmen.(photo/Lennie Malmgren for PSD)
Pick Four: Schumm Goes to the Air for the Quakers
Through the first half of the season, Penn Charter (2-4, 0-2) has leaned on the running back tandem of Ohifame Ijeboi and Chandler Turner to spur the offense. But last week, junior quarterback Colin Schumm asserted himself and gave the Quakers the ability to open up the playbook heading into the latter part of the year.
Schumm threw for a season-high 147 yards and two total touchdowns in last week’s loss to the Churchmen. While he scored on quarterback sneak on the Quakers opening drive, he showed maturity down the stretch. Trailing 13-7, Schumm connected with senior Colin Michener for 45 yards on 3rd down in his own territory. Later in the drive, he threw a gorgeous pass down the sideline to junior Davin Barnett for a 28-yard touchdown to tie the game. He also hit tight end Isaiah Grimes for three catches for 63 yards on the day.
The Penn Charter quarterback had been using his legs more than his arm prior to Saturday but if he can continue to air it out and allow the Quakers to open things up, it should be a strong final stretch of the season.
Pictured Penn Charter RB's (#6) Ohifame ljeboi, (#23) Chandler Turner and QB (#10) Colin Schumm in game vs. Episcopal Academy. (photos/Lennie Malmgren for PSD)
Pick Five: Knox, Reagan Making Most of Their Opportunities
A week after having two 100-yard rushers, the Fords (3-3, 1-1) had a 100-yard receiver. Junior Chace Knox had three receptions for exactly 100 yards against the Friars. The 5-10 wide receiver had a 74-yard reception from senior quarterback Mike Benincasa (198 yards, two touchdowns). After not recording a catch versus Springside Chestnut Hill last week, he stepped up in a big way. He had 75 yards and a touchdown against Lansdale Catholic earlier this season. Knox is shaping into a deep threat for Beninicasa and the Fords.
While Aidan Dooley (1,598 passing yards, 19 touchdowns) has been torching opposing defenses with his precision passing, he has been aided by the production of several Blue Devils receivers, including sophomore Danny Reagan. The 6-1 tight end hauled in 11 receptions for 118 yards against the Patriots. He found the soft spots in the Germantown Academy defense and also caught a two-point conversion from Dooley. Reagan has a catch in every game this season including three touchdowns. He has been a standout on the defensive side of the ball, as evidenced by his 15 tackles and interception return touchdown against the Fords last week, but his prowess as a receiver is evolving. He’s developing at a young age and becoming a reliable target for Dooley and Springside Chestnut Hill (3-4, 0-2).
SCHA senior QB (#12) Aidan Dooley and WR (#24) sophomore Danny Reagan (photos/James Quinn for PSD)
Haverford senior QB (#3) Mike Benincasa and junior WR (#1) Chace Knox (photos/James Williamson for PSD )
Pick Six: Haverford School Honors Undefeated Team
Friday night’s matchup with Malvern Prep was about more than just a football game for the Fords. The Haverford School honored its 1970-71 undefeated football team and dedicated its new football arena, the M & J Spencer Stadium.
That 1970-71 team was 16-0 over two seasons, with two outright Inter-Ac titles under the late, great Mike Mayock. A former 1955 NFL draft selection of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Mayock turned down playing and decided to pursue a career as a middle school teacher and coach after starring at Villanova. That team was led by guard Bob McCafferty, running back John Haldeman and the late Frank McCann. Haldeman went on to play football and lacrosse at Duke University.
Over those two seasons, the Fords outscored the opposition, 578-129. They won all but one Inter-Ac game in that two-year run by at least 26 points. Mayock went 49-45-2 during his tenure with the Fords and his son, Mike, who was a three-time First Team All Inter-Ac selection and starred at Boston College, is the general manager of the Las Vegas Raiders
Members of the 1970-71 Haverford football team (l to r) former (RB) John Haldeman & (OG) Bob McCafferty reminisce about their undefeated season and the vigorous training of teams today. (video/James Williamson for PSD)
M & J Spencer Stadium is named after Max and Jake Spencer, who both played for assistant coach Mike Murphy, who was at the helm of the Fords from 2005-19 and won five Inter-Ac titles. M & J Spencer Stadium encompasses Sabol Field, named after Ed and Steve Sabol who started NFL Films.
Murphy sees this as a chance to honor two great families who have meant a lot to the Haverford School community.
“Like a lot of colleges, it will still be known as Sabol Field but it will also be known as M & J Spencer Stadium,” Murphy said. “Max and Jake attended Haverford and played here. [The Spencers] have sponsored our stadium for us as a naming opportunity.”
Pictured (L/R): Haverford Head of School Tyler Casertano, Craig & BJ Spencer and Dir. of Development Jeff Day. (photo/Mike Nance for PSD)
Max was a quarterback under Murphy who graduated in 2014. Jake, a 2020 grad who recorded 86 catches for 945 yards and 17 total touchdowns during his time with the Haverford School, is currently a sophomore wide receiver at Colgate. “They were both good kids in our program. Jake was one of the better players in the Inter-Ac as a punt and kick returner and receiver,” Murphy said. The Spencer family have “been significant supporters of the school” and their contributions led to the naming of the stadium in the family’s name.