Photos/Videos: Marc Narducci, Mike Nance, Lou Rabito, James Quinn & Ethan Puth
By: Marc Narducci
The second week of the Inter-Ac Schedule featured a defensive classic between contenders, a wild comeback win by Germantown Academy and the continued excellence of Episcopal Academy.
PICK ONE: HAVERFORD SCHOOL’S KICKER THE DIFFERENCE IN DEFENSIVE STRUGGLE
In these days of offensive overload, two of the major contenders for the Inter-Ac championship put on a major show on D.
Defending champion Malvern Prep and upstart Haverford School were both relentless, neither allowing the other to cross the end zone.
So the difference in this one, at least on the scoreboard came off the foot of Haverford School senior Ivan Harlamov, a 6-foot, 180-pound senior.
Harlamov kicked both field goals in Haverford School’s 6-0 win at Malvern Prep on Saturday. Harlamov is also an accomplished punter, but on this day his field goal kicking took the stage in a game that had a postseason feel to it.
Kicking isn’t the easiest job. If a player makes a big kick, he is a hero and if he doesn’t, well you know the rest.
“There is a lot of pressure, once you go up there you have one shot,” said Harlamov, who is also an accomplished punter. “It is a lot of pressure, but I can usually get through it if I play well.”
Against Malvern Prep, Harlamov connected on 2 of 4 field goal attempts from 41 and 28 yards. It isn’t the first time he has been the difference for the Fords. In an earlier 32-18 win over Academy Park, he kicked a personal best four field goals.
So many players came up with big plays and it was senior defensive back Zach Powell who sealed the win by making a leaping interception around midfield in the final minute.
Powell isn’t a starter, but he shows how important depth can be.
“I wasn’t in the game much but when I am in the game, I try to make plays,” he said. “I think for our team this was a statement game.”
Senior linebacker Louie Atkinson led the Fords with 13 tackles. Sophomore linebacker Kellen Gardner had seven tackles and three sacks.
"This was all about hard work," Gardner said,. "We grinded all summer for this, we practiced all week for this and we were prepared."
Haverford School senior Ivan Harlamov kicked both field goals in a 6-0 win over Malvern Prep. He talks about how it feels to beat the defending champs - PSD Video by Marc Narducci
Haverford School vs. Malvern Prep - PSD Highlights by Marc Narducci
Haverford School vs. Malvern Prep - PSD Gallery by Mike Nance
This was simply a day where Haverford School did a masterful job keeping the Friars off the scoreboard.
“The defense played out of their minds today” Haverford School coach Brian Martin said. “We knew they had a very good defense and we knew we had to step up our game and our guys answered the bell.”
Haverford School (7-0, 2-0) visits Penn Charter, Saturday at 2.
PICK TWO: PATIENCE REWARDED FOR GERMANTOWN ACADEMY TWO-WAY LINEMAN IN WILD COMEBACK WIN
Senior CJ Kearney has patiently waited his turn and this year the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Germantown Academy two-way lineman is making the most of his increased playing time.
Kearney was a dominant force on both sides of the ball at left tackle and defensive end in Saturday’s 42-32 win at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy.
“That was the best game of his career,” Germantown Academy coach Matt Dence said. “I was so proud of him.”
Kearney had eight tackles, including two tackles for loss and a sack. For good measure he blocked an extra point kick, one of two for the Patriots. The other was blocked by 6-foot-7 freshman Brandon Truszkowski.
Dence said that Kearney was a true team player over the past few years, working hard, never complaining about his playing time.
Kearney said the key was just grinding and working on improving.
Like any player, he would have liked to have played more in the past, but it didn’t alter his work habits.
“There were times I was hoping to make more of a contribution, but there were All-Inter-Ac players in front of me and I understood the situation,” Kearney said.
It’s ironic that his best game also came in the wildest he has played in. Germantown Academy trailed 26-7 at halftime before turning on the afterburners in the second half.
“It felt great,” Kearney said of the win. “At halftime, we knew what we had to D-up and nobody lost confidence. It was a great all-around win, and we really came together as a team.”
GA vs. SCHA - PSD Gallery by James Quinn
GA junior Seamus Knox runs just shy of the end zone - PSD Video by James Quinn
Speaking of coming together, 6-1, 185-pound sophomore receiver-corner AJ Towsen caught eight passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns, his first multi-score game as a varsity player.
“Our captains kept everybody’s head up at halftime and we came out firing and it was great,” Towsen said.
Towsen gave props to Kearney and the job he has done especially being a defensive leader.
“He is a huge factor of our defense and I look up to him,” Towsen said.
As the weeks go by, Towsen and senior quarterback Tristian Machado are developing strong chemistry.
“Tristian and I are growing close and each week are getting more accustomed to each other,” Towsen said.
Machado completed 15 of 24 for 219 yards and four touchdowns. The running game was led by junior Seamus Knox who rushed for 123 yards and a TD in 23 carries. Junior Anthony Lara added 60 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.
Germantown Academy (6-1, 1-1) hosts Malvern Prep, 1:30 on Saturday.
PICK THREE: A CHANGE AT QUARTERBACK FOR PENN CHARTER
Things were going well for Penn Charter during the early portion of its game last Friday night at Episcopal Academy.
The Quakers tied the score on a touchdown pass from Seamus McCain to Isaiah Grimes early in the second quarter. McCain, who replaced Colin Schumm at quarterback during the game, had given the Quakers a spark.
Episcopal Academy adjusted, however and scored 41 unanswered points in a 48-7 win.
Penn Charter coach Tom Coyle said he was proud how Schumm handled the situation. Instead of going to the bench, Schumm played tight end.
Colin was very unselfish when we made the decision and he continued playing hard on both sides of the ball,” Coyle said.
Was the quarterback change for good?
Coyle said he will be evaluating things this week but added that both players will continue to see two-way duty.
Coyle also cited the play of defensive tackle Chris Austin, who had an interception.
The Quakers, who have had to overcome several injuries, must cut down on the mistakes, easier said than done.
There was a fumble inside the Episcopal 5-yard-line, a key interception.
Touchdown pass from Seamus McCain to Isaiah Grimes - PSD Video by Ethan Puth
Episcopal Academy vs. Penn Charter - PSD Gallery by Ethan Puth
“Sometimes we can’t get out of our way,” Coyle said. “The players keep working hard and we are looking to improve.”
Penn Charter (4-3, 0-2) hosts Haverford School, 2 p.m. on Saturday.
PICK FOUR: ALL-AROUND EFFORT BY EPISCOPAL ACADEMY
In Friday’s 48-7 win over Penn Charter, it was difficult to tell which unit was better for Episcopal Academy, the offense or defense.
On offense it was too much of the TJ’s, along with 6-0, 180-pound junior quarterback Na’Rome Rayborn.
TJ Cadden scored the game’s first TD on an 18-yard run and later caught a 25-yard scoring pass from Rayborn.
TJ Lamb caught TD passes of 20 and 32 yards from Rayborn.
Eric Demyum also caught at TD pass.
This season Rayborn has completed 69 of 94 passes (73%) for 1,117 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Episcopal Academy vs. Penn Charter - PSD Highlights by Ethan Puth
“Na’Rome is just an incredible kid who is very talented, very accurate and smart with the ball,” Episcopal Academy coach Todd Fairlie said. “He can also run the ball well and is of our fastest kids.”
Fairlie said that defensive linemen AJ Koukou and Vern Holley were disruptive forces and difference makers up front.
Episcopal Academy (7-0, 2-0) hosts Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, Friday at 7.
PICK FIVE: SPRINGSIDE CHESTNUT HILL ACADEMY STRONG IN DEFEAT
Springside Chestnut Hill Academy had a strong start, but couldn’t sustain the momentum in a 42-34 home loss to Germantown Academy.
There were plenty of positives, beginning with running back Jayden Sumpter, who rushed for 223 yards and three touchdowns before suffering a shoulder injury toward the end of the third quarter.
Coach Rick Knox was happy how his team played in the first half, when the Blue Devils earned a 26-7 lead, but getting 48 minutes of consistency is the key.
“They got some momentum going and were able to get momentum in the second half,” Knox said. “If you look at our first half and our first half against Haverford (when the Blue Devils trailed just 14-7), we have the ingredients, but have to do it for the whole game.”
Quarterback Tommy Markey was 11 for 19 for 140 yards and a touchdown and Julian McFadden had six receptions for 110 yards and a score.
Springside Chestnut Hill Academy vs. Germantown Academy - PSD Gallery by James Quinn
Danny Reagan led the defensive effort with 10 tackles and an interception for a touchdown.
Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (3-4, 0-2) visits Episcopal Academy, Friday at 7.
PICK SIX: MALVERN PREP LOOKING TO PICK UP THE PIECES
When Malvern Prep and Haverford School meet in any sport, it is usually an intense rivalry. When both are considered among the best in the Inter-Ac, the intensity intensifies.
That was the case on Saturday when the host Friars suffered a 6-0 loss to Haverford School in a game where the defenses never let their collective feet off the gas.
Malvern Prep coach Dave Gueriera, not surprisingly lauded his D.
“We have been led by our defense and they have stood on their head all year and they did it again this game,” Gueriera said. “We just couldn’t make a play offensively.
Gueriera said many players stood out, but mentioned the work up front of junior Phil Tabasso (6-2, 280) and freshman lineman Cam Brickle (6-2, 265) along withs senior Bobby Mears (6-4, 225) and senior Hayden Pegg (6-4, 190).
With just three games left, Gueriera understands the race isn’t over. Both teams still have to face Episcopal Academy.
“With three games to go, you never know what can happen Gueriera said.
Whoever wins this title will have beaten some awfully stiff competition, as is the case in most years.
Malvern Prep vs. Haverford School - PSD Gallery by Lou Rabito
“The Inter-Ac is strong every year, but I think we got more notoriety this year because we beat some really good teams,” Gueriera said. “The Inter-Ac has been strong for a long time.”
Malvern Prep (6-1, 1-1) visits Germantown Academy, Saturday at 1:30.