The “Pick Six” - a renewed rivalry with title implications, three running backs who will have to make an impact, a veteran running back’s play and a stalwart receiving corps. 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: Krystal Williams, James Quinn & Lou Rabito for PSD)
By: Rich Flanagan
Pick One: Episcopal Academy, Malvern Prep Fight for Inter-Ac Supremacy
Friday night will be a colossal matchup between the last two remaining unbeaten teams in the Inter-Ac League. Malvern Prep (6-2, 3-0 Inter-Ac) travels to Episcopal Academy (6-2, 3-0) on Friday night with first place and a potential league title on the line.
Since 2010, the Friars have claimed five Inter-Ac titles with three of those being outright while the Churchmen won in 2019 (there was no champion last season). Episcopal Academy upended Malvern Prep, 29-27 two years ago to end the Friars’ 16-game league winning streak. Quarterback Marcus McDaniel, the 2019 Inter-Ac MVP now playing at the University of Pennsylvania, accumulated 272 total yards of offense, with 144 on the ground. He tossed three touchdown passes. His touchdown pass to Matt Bush from inside the red zone at the 9:12 mark ultimately sealed the victory.
Episcopal Academy head coach Todd Fairlie has seen preparation differ from previous weeks as there is an added element to the matchup.
“This is a rivalry game and a big one for us,” Fairlie said. “Our players have a lot of friends and people they’re familiar with on that team. It creates a healthy rivalry and there’s an excitement throughout campus. We’re happy that we’re hosting in front of our student body and community.”
Lonnie White ran for 81 yards, which included a 42-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. He added a second rushing score shortly after connecting with Ryan Maguire on a 47-yard pass in that loss two seasons ago.
Malvern Prep head coach Dave Gueriera has been thinking about this game for two years and Friday will be about more than simply a football game.
“These guys are going to be hyped up,” Gueriera said. “They’re a really good program and the defending champs of the Inter-Ac. It’s a huge game for us.”
The key to the game could be field position and easy points. Malvern Prep kicker and Naval Academy commit Jake Reid has been sensational this season having drilled a 33-yard field goal last week. He has recorded eight touchbacks on kickoffs and also controlled the field at punter. According to Fairlie, he has one of the biggest legs in the Inter-Ac and his presence could dramatically change the momentum on Friday.
“He is unbelievable,” Fairlie said. “He can present issues with field position. We have to put ourselves in a really good position from that end. He’s put them in good positions from there.”
Episcopal Academy's 29-27 win over Malvern Prep on 10/26/19. (PSD Flashback game highlights)
Malvern Prep senior Jake Reid kicked an 85-yard punt and a 33-yard field goal in last Saturday's game vs. Germantown Academy. (PSD photo by Lou Rabito)
Pick Two: Friars Running Back Trio Picks Up the Slack
While the Friars handled Germantown Academy, 31-7 on Saturday afternoon, they suffered a massive loss. Starting running back Isaiah Wright suffered a knee injury on the first defensive series of the game after D’Angelo Stocker had returned a 95-yard kickoff return touchdown. Wright had to be helped off and did not return. Wright rushed for 248 yards against Penn Charter then 145 versus the Haverford School but did not record a carry in the victory over the Patriots.
Wright had rushed 693 yards and had nine touchdowns heading into that game but the loss of a veteran back could change how the Friars offense operates. Malvern Prep picked up the pieces and spaced out the workload between senior Jaylin Evans, junior Yaahdir Nash and senior Tommy Czarzasty. Nash had 39 yards on 11 carries and a three-yard touchdown run. Evans accrued 48 yards on only nine carries and capped the game off with a one-yard scoring run. Czarzasty picked up 40 yards of his own.
It was running back by committee formula that proved to be beneficial and helped the Friars continue to roll. Losing Wright could also present senior quarterback Jack Capaldi with more opportunities to throw downfield. He has thrown for at least 105 yards in three of the last four games, including 236 against Archbishop Spalding (Md.).
He has four passing touchdowns of the year and, even though he only had 50 yards through the air last week, Gueriera was pleased with how he managed the game.
“I thought he played really well because there were no turnovers,” Gueriera said. “He was a general of the offense and he didn’t really make any big mistakes. He kept us in line and kept us going.”
Malvern Prep vs. Germantown Academy Game Highlights by Rich Flanagan:
Trying to establish the passing game against the Churchmen will be tough as they are only allowing 84 passing yards per game through eight games.
Pick Three: McMeekin Giving Young Quarterback Help in Backfield
As Na’rome Rayborn has become more acclimated with the offense and gained more confidence, he has the luxury of leaning on senior running back and Princeton lacrosse commit Andrew McMeekin. He rushed for a pair of touchdowns against Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (3-5, 0-3). The 6-1, 195-pound back has rushed for 417 yards and 10 touchdowns, second in the league. He’s the first Episcopal Academy running back to have double-digit rushing touchdowns in a season since DeeWil Barlee (Villanova) in 2018.
Rayborn has three passing touchdowns, with senior wideout Bryce Cooper (295 receiving yards, five touchdowns) catching a 60-yard score last week, and one on the ground in the last two games but having McMeekin to help lighten the load has been crucial to his development, according to Fairlie.
“The leadership and comfort of having Andrew back there is a staple to our team,” Fairlie said. “He’s somebody you can trust to know he’s going to do his job and you can do yours. He has helped being a nice safety valve and it gives us balance. He does a great job between the tackles but he’s athletic and gets around the edge.”
McMeekin had 46 yards and a four-yard touchdown run two weeks ago against Penn Charter and he has been a reliable runner, dating back to the beginning of the season. His experience, reliability (only one fumble lost this year) and versatility (156 receiving yards) have made him one of the most indispensable backs in the Inter-Ac this season. He could be the difference against the Friars on Friday night.
Episcopal Academy vs. Springside Chestnut Hill Academy. (photos by James Quinn for PSD)
Pick Four: Gerber, Knox Create a Dynamic WR Combo for Fords
Facing a 4th down & 15 with under a minute to play, there were a limited number of plays for the Haverford School to call.
Senior Mike Galasso (276 passing yards, three touchdowns) won the starting quarterback job by being able to throw the ball down the field and create big-play opportunities for the Fords receivers. In that situation, he went to senior wideout Sam Gerber and connected for a 52-yard touchdown with 38 seconds remaining to secure a 21-16 victory over the Quakers. A week after 48 receiving yards and a touchdown, Gerber took the momentum into Saturday and found a spot behind the zone down the seam. He finished with five receptions for 101 yards and that game-winning score. He also added 62 rushing yards on 16 carries for the Fords (4-3, 2-1).
Haverford School senior WR Sam Gerber scored game winning TD in game vs. Penn Charter. (PSD photo by Krystal Williams)
Fellow wide receiver Chase Knox had his second consecutive 100-yard game against Penn Charter. He had four receptions to put him over the century mark. Knox has 418 receiving yards and Gerber has 374 yards this season. The duo has played better, particularly during Inter-Ac play and it has helped in Galasso’s maturation
Pick Five: Allen Not Slowing Down Anytime Soon
Despite the loss to the Friars, Germantown Academy senior Brian Allen just keeps running and running with success. The 5-foot-11 back ran for 113 yards and a three-yard touchdown against Malvern Prep, with 80 of those coming on the opening drive. He leads the Inter-Ac with 1,148 rushing yards on 150 carries and 12 touchdowns.
He has rushed for over 100 yards in all seven games for the Patriots (4-3, 1-2) this season. Even with a limited passing attack, Allen has been running past and through opposing defenses and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.
GA senior Brian Allen finds the end zone for the Patriots in game vs. Malvern Prep:
Pick Six: Schumm Continues Airing It Out
Penn Charter (2-5, 0-3) has dropped its first three Inter-Ac contests but junior quarterback Colin Schumm has been finding ways to move the ball downfield, especially in the last two games. He passed for 136 yards and a touchdown against Episcopal Academy two weeks ago. He connected with Colin Michener on a 45-yard reception then hit Davin Barnett for a 28-yard touchdown on that same drive.
Last week against the Fords, he threw for a season-high 177 yards and a score. Schumm found junior tight end Isaiah Grimes, who had four receptions for 109 yards, often in Saturday’s loss.
He has thrown for 746 yards and six touchdowns this season. He has thrown a touchdown pass in six straight games and is giving the Quakers an added dimension that has kept them in games in recent weeks.
Penn Charter junior QB Colin Schumm in game vs. Malvern Prep. (PSD photo by Lou Rabito)