BY AIDAN TYKSINSKI
(Photos by Lennie Malmgren for PSD)
NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA--Going into the season's first conference game, everyone was sure the Friday night matchup between The Episcopal Academy and Malvern Prep would be a contested battle. While it was for the first quarter, Malvern took over in the second, outsourcing the Churchmen 27-0 in the quarter to go into halftime up 34-0. A touchdown by junior running back Danny Riely added the only score for either team in the second half and capped off a 41-0 win for the Friars.
“We were ready for this game. We wanted it to happen, and we were ready for it,” said Malvern Prep quarterback Jackson Melconian after the game. The junior signal caller had two passing touchdowns on the day and led a balanced Malvern Prep offensive attack throughout the game.
The game did not start right for either offense at the beginning. On the first drive for Episcopal Academy, a pass by junior quarterback Brody Garrison was picked off by the Friars and returned to the Churchmen 37. Malvern then coughed off a fumble of their own, leading the EA’s best drive off the game.
Malvern's Jack Bauer Scored on Defense and Offense in game vs. Episcopal. (video/ Aidan Tyksinski for PSD)
The long series stalled at the Friars 33, leading the Churchmen’s kicker, Spencer Schuh, to attempt a 50-yard field goal. The kick, however, fell short of the goalpost ending the drive and Episcopal’s closest chance of scoring all night.
Malvern Prep Junior QB Jackson Melconian. (Video by Aidan Tyksinski for PSD)
Malvern Prep senior linebacker Jake Bauer. (video by Aidan Tyksinski for PSD)
After yet another fumble by Malvern Prep, the Churchmen got the ball deep in their own territory. Unfortunately for Garrison, he would then fumble the ball in his own endzone. The ball then bounced to the two-yard line, where it was recovered by linebacker Jake Bauer for a touchdown to give the Friars their first score of the game.
After an Episcopal punt, Bauer would have another chance to score on Malvern’s ensuing drive, this time on offense. After a long Friars drive was stalled at the Churchmen’s one-yard line, Bauer lined up as a full back and bullied his way in for the score.
“Just ran up the middle and let my blockers work,” Bauer said on the play. It also was the first time that he had scored an offensive and defensive touchdown in the same game.
It was at this point where things started to unravel for the Churchmen. The offense coughed up a fumble, which led to a 27-yard passing touchdown from Melconian to sophomore wideout Cade Cooper. Although the Friars would miss the extra point, the 20-0 lead felt insurmountable for the Churchmen to overcome.
After another punt by EA, Melconian would get his second passing touchdown of the game, this time on a 30-yard bomb over the top for tight end Ben Kumpon to go up 27-0. “We liked our matchups. We got our guys on the outside… we just trust them. Our offensive line did a great job tonight and gave me time,” Melconian said.
Andrew Pellicciotta added a late touchdown run on a direct snap to give the Friars a 34-0 lead at the half, and Riley scored the only touchdown of the second half on a 12-yard touchdown run. The big story for Malvern Prep in the half was their defense, which forced a punt or turnover on downs on every Episcopal drive.
“I just think we made an emphasis all week that defense needs to play well. The scout team did well all week preparing us for the game,” said Bauer.
The win brings Malvern Prep to 4-2 overall on the season and 1-0 in conference play. They will be taking on the Haverford School, which won its first conference game 40-26 over Germantown Academy. Episcopal will look to avenge this week’s defeat against Penn Charter, who lost their first Inter AC game 21-7 to Springside Chestnut Hill Academy.
