Photos Courtesy of Robert Colameco
By: Malvern Prep's Quinn Riley '25
OCEAN CITY, NJ - It was a pleasant varsity debut for sophomore quarterback Skyler Smith, who briefly exited the game in the third quarter with an injury though would return a few plays later. His first play back, he connected with Ennis Udo on a 45-yard touchdown pass for the second time that night.
Malvern went on to defeat La Salle College High School, 35-0, on a beautiful night in Ocean City, NJ.
They didn't do it without any blemishes though, as seniors, running back Yaahdir Nash and offensive lineman Kevin Miller, exited the game early. Nash had 20 carries for 100 yards and a touchdown before exiting.
"Yaahdi and Skyler both cramped up," Malvern head coach Dave Gueriera said after the game. "We had to manage that -- and then we kept Yaahdi out as a precaution when the score got up. But Sky' was able to work it out and get back in there... Kevin took a shot in the back after a play -- he's OK."
Malvern went into the half up just 7-0, though they took advantage of the La Salle mistakes in the second half and ran away with it late.
Malvern Prep sophomore quarterback Skyler Smith #8 - Photo courtesy of Robert Colameco
It was a quiet first quarter, but right as the second quarter began, Smith connected with the wide open Udo on a 45-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-0 lead -- Udo's first 45-yard touchdown of the day.
The Smith-Udo connection in the second quarter was the exact same play that the two connected on for a practically identical 45-yard touchdown a quarter later.
"We actually called that play three times," Gueriera said. "And the second time, Skyler went to another receiver. We felt like they were overplaying the run and leaving Ennis open -- it was two great throws by Skyler and two great catches by Ennis.
The Friars would piece together another strong drive late in the first half, as Nash would break free for a 12-yard touchdown on the ground. However, it was called back due to a holding call on Malvern, and Jack Ploszay's field goal attempt went wide left as they went into the half with it still a one-possession affair.
Malvern would finally take their 14-0 lead on Nash's 15-yard score in the third quarter, and that was later followed by the second Smith-Udo connection of the day to give the Friars a 21-point lead.
Ennis Udo breaks through for a Malvern Prep YD - photo courtesy of Robert Colameco
Hayden Pegg then took an interception to the house for a pick six, before Peri DiBartolomeo and Owen Mears picked up interceptions of their own as Malvern began to run away with it.
To put the icing on the cake, late in the fourth Smith found Dylan O'Connor wide open in the end zone for Smith's third touchdown pass of the day and their fifth touchdown as a team, which made it a 35-0 affair.
In his varsity debut, Smith went 7-for-11 through the air with 115 yards and three touchdowns, while on the ground he had 68 yards on 11 rushes. An impressive debut as Malvern got their first look at who could be under center for the next three seasons.
"Ever since I've known Skyler, this is the kind of guy that Skyler is," Gueriera said. "He had a great week of practice, I think mentally he's smart -- he picks up things quickly, and I think he's very poised. He makes good decisions, and he's tough man -- he's a tough kid. He took a shot early on in the game, and we all saw it, and he bounced right back up."
With that, Malvern looks ahead to Archbishop Wood, as they have to wait another week before their home opener that begins a three-game homestand against Imhotep, Roman Catholic, and Rock Creek Christian.
To wrap up non-conference play, the Friars will travel to Delaware Military Academy before starting their Inter-Ac schedule on October 15 at Penn Charter.