Photos: Chelby Elam, Lennie Malmgren & Ryan Nix
By: Marc Narducci
We’re past the midway point of the five-week Inter-Ac season and some things never change. In a statement as obvious as the sky is blue, Malvern Prep remains dominant on offense and D. Episcopal Academy has one of the more entertaining and effective offenses in the league. A quarterback from Haverford School has overcome a series of injuries to enjoy the breakout game of his career. The kicking situation at Germantown Academy is far from Grim. An Inter-Ac coaching icon is about to change jobs and Springside Chestnut Hill Academy was forced to make some offensive changes on the fly and the O still looked strong. All this as Week 3 has concluded and teams prepare for what promises to be the final two energy-packed weeks.
Without any further ado, here is this week’s Inter-Ac Pick-6.
Pick 1: Plenty of Contributors at Malvern Prep
It took three Inter-Ac games, but we finally discovered that Malvern Prep’s defense is human.
Finally, after two goose eggs, the Friars allowed their first points in league play during last week’s 42-14 win over Penn Charter.
“We allowed a touchdown, and everybody was wondering what the heck is going on,” Malvern Prep coach David Gueriera quipped.
In reality, allowing a TD bugged the team so much that they then scored 35 unanswered points. Penn Charter would score the game’s final touchdown when both teams had many reserves in the game.
Leading the defensive effort was junior lineman Bernard Blakey. The 6-5, 220-pouund Blakey had four tackles and a team-high two sacks. Fellow junior defensive lineman Cameron Brickle (6-3, 285) had two tackles for loss. Sophomore linebacker Will Simmons recorded a team-high seven tackles.
“That 88 (Blakey) and 0 (Brickle) were two really good football players,” said Penn Charter coach Tom Coyle.
Of course, with the way the defense is playing, the offense sometimes gets lost in the publicity shuffle.
In winning their first three Inter-Ac games, the Friars have averaged a hefty 36.6 points.
The key is balance.
Malvern Prep in game vs. Penn Charter (Photos/ Chelby Elam for PSD)
Against Penn Charter six different players scored. Here were the TD scorers:
Chris Smith 5-yd run
Jake Bauer 87-yd run
Andrew Pellicciotta 45-yd pass from Jackson Melconian
Danny Riely 11-yd run
Zeke Bates 19-yd run
P.J. Holmes 7-yd pass from Skyler Smith
Special mention goes to Austin Trout, who was successful on all six PAT attempts.
The Friars rushed for 279 yards on 29 carries, with 11 different players carrying the ball.
“We have a lot of depth,” Gueriera said. “This is one of our deeper teams.”
Having so many people contribute week in and week out is something the Friars are proud of.
“Seeing so many people get the ball is really cool,” said Bauer, whose 87-yard scoring run on his only carry of the game was the longest of his high school career.
#26 Zeke Bates was one of six TD scorers vs. Penn Charter - PSD Photo by Chelby Elam
That depth is extended to the defense.
“We probably have six guys who could start on the defensive line,” Gueriera said.
The depth is at virtually every position, which helps explains why Malvern Prep hasn’t experienced complacency after winning the league a year ago.
Next: Saturday at Germantown Academy, 1 p.m.
Pick 2: The high-octane offense at Episcopal Academy keeps rolling
Episcopal Academy junior wide receiver Jackson Orcutt is on a certified roll. For the third time this year and second in two weeks, Orcutt had three touchdown receptions in EA’s 42-17 home win on Friday over Germantown Academy. Orcutt got things going by opening the scoring with an 80-yard touchdown pass from classmate Brody Garrison. Before the first quarter had ended, he had his second TD reception, one that went for 35 yards.
He added a 76-yard strike in the second quarter that broke a 14-14 tie.
For the third time this year, Orcutt set the single-game record for receiving yards with six receptions for 227 yards and three touchdowns. This came a week after he had nine receptions for 194 yards in a 31-28 loss to Penn Charter.
His classmate Garrison had quite a game against Germantown Academy, completing 14 of 19 passes for 299 yards, four touchdowns and one interception.
“We are finally seeing what we hoped for early, come to fruition,” EA coach Todd Fairlie said. “Leading into the year had lot of guys doing things for the first time and there wasn’t smooth sailing and our kids are getting better each week, and we are learning more about our strengths and putting kids in position to be successful.”
Garrison also threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to senior tight end Jake Virbitsky, who previously had been playing more at linebacker, where he has been a defensive leader.
“We were a little banged up and he was able to step up (on offense),” Fairlie said.
Virbitsky had previously been a defensive lineman, but he has moved to linebacker, where he is second on the team with 55 tackles. Senior Paul Bruder leads the Churchmen with 64 tackles.
Episcopal Academy vs. Germantown Academy - PSD Highlights by Lennie Malmgren
Episcopal Academy Football Senior Day Gallery - PSD Photos by Lennie Malmgren
“Linebacker is new to him, but he is growing nicely,” Fairlie said of Virbitsky.
The offense is growing nicely as well.
Orcutt, who is a Georgetown lacrosse commit, has been a big part of the offensive explosion. He has 54 receptions for 942 yards and 13 touchdowns. Garrison has completed 108 of 173 passes (62%) for 1,448 yards and 17 touchdowns.
“These guys have been impressive, getting the ball rolling for us,” Fairlie said about his entire offense, one that is obviously hitting its stride.
Next: Saturday at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, 1 p.m.
Pick 3: Haverford School’s QB shines
It’s been a long road for Haverford School junior quarterback Zach Faragalli, but all the hard work while recovering from injuries has paid off. Faragalli had a career game by completing 18-of 33 passes for 227 yards and four touchdowns in a 28-21 comeback win over Springside Chestnut Hill Academy.
Haverford School junior quarterback Zach Faragalli #6 - PSD Photo by Ryan Nix
“It’s been a long time, I haven’t had a big game like that for a while,” he said. “It also felt great coming against Chestnut Hill because I tore my ACL against them last year.”
Faragalli played quarterback his freshman year, but suffered a shoulder injury and couldn’t play the position last year, so he moved to running back before suffering the torn ACL.
“I wake up a little sore in the morning, but things are going well,” he said.
That’s an understatement. Faragalli said he can’t ever recall throwing four TD passes in a game.
“I think in Middle School I threw three, but it was cool,” he said. “My teammates made it easy because we have a lot of great players.”
Marcus Jones caught two TD passes of 3 and 19 yards. Nicholas Krakovitz had a 15-yard scoring reception and Matthew Jones, the brother of Marcus, added a 13-yard touchdown reception.
A sophomore, Marcus Jones led the way with three receptions for 59 yards and two touchdowns. Kwamen Waters had the most receiving yards, with four receptions for 62 yards.
The defense did its share as well. Leading the way was senior outside linebacker Kellen Gardner, who had to overcome some serious adversity.
#6 Zach Faragalli connects with #33 Matthew Jones for a TD - PSD Video by Ryan Nix
“He was pretty much in on every tackle despite battling back spasms,” Haverford School coach Brian Martin said. “He couldn’t stand up half the time and would come off the field and stretch.”
As a concession, Gardner, who also plays H-back, limited his duty to defense.
“It was just an unbelievable performance,” Martin said.
Next: Saturday at Penn Charter, 2 p.m.
Pick 4: Grim getting his kicks at Germantown Academy
Cole Grim is relatively new to placekicking and punting but the Germantown Academy senior has adjusted nicely to both. Grim didn’t begin playing football until his sophomore year. He had played soccer up until eighth grade and as a freshman was a member of the golf team, where at his best, he is a seven handicap.
Grim recalls that somebody suggested since Germantown Academy had a kicker who graduated from the 2021 team, that he should try out.
So, he started training toward the end of his freshman year and joined the football team as a sophomore.
“It was a hard adjustment,” Grim said about kicking. “It took a lot of practice.”
He has been kicking ever since and the best has come this year.
Germantown Academy senior kicker Cole Grim #7 - PSD Photo by Lennie Malmgren
Grim was 2-for-3 on field goals as a sophomore and was successful on all of his extra points. Last season he didn’t attempt a field goal, but had 26 touchbacks, while also delivering several big punts.
This year in three Inter-Ac games, he has booted five field goals, including a 50-yarder during the Patriots 40-26 loss at Haverford School.
“I had done it in practice a bunch, but this was my first 50-yarder in a game,” said Grim, who is averaging 34.6 yards per punt. “It was cool to have done it in the Inter-Ac and break the old school record (of 47 yards).
After his junior season he transferred to national football power IMG Academy in Florida.
He said things didn’t work out the way he envisioned and decided to return to GA for his senior year.
“I am glad to be back,” he said.
So is his team.
While the 50-yarder is his longest in a game, he’s kicked much longer in practice. At IMG, he said, he booted a 65-yarder.
Grim is hoping to continue kicking at the next level. He says a number of schools have talked to him about a dual role as kicker-punter.
Episcopal Academy vs. Germantown Academy - PSD Photos by Lennie Malmgren
He has come a long way in a relatively short period of time, and he hopes to continue improving as he spends endless hours refining his craft.
As for last week, Germantown Academy was even with Episcopal Academy near the midway point of the second quarter before the Churchman broke away for a 42-17 victory. Xavier Stearn threw touchdown passes of 10-yards to Jack Durkin and 12-yards to Mick McKee. The TD to Mckee tied the score at 14. EA would score two touchdowns to take a 28-14 lead and Grim then kicked a 32-yard field goal to make it 28-17 at the half. EA would then add a touchdown in the third and fourth quarters for the final margin.
Stearn completed 13-of-27 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns. In addition to his touchdown reception, Durkin rushed for 106 yards on 24 carries. AJ Towsen had four receptions for 71 yards.
Next: Saturday vs. Malvern Prep, 1 p.m.
Pick 5: Coyle savoring his final days at Penn Charter
Penn Charter became the first Inter-Ac team to score on Malvern Prep. When Tate Taylor scored an 18-yard touchdown pass from Tom McGlinchey, with under three minutes left in the second quarter, the Quakers were tied 7-7 with Malvern Prep.
#3 Tate Taylor celebrates with teammate Nolan Duffy #14 after scoring vs. Malvern Prep - PSD Photo by Chelby Elam
The Friars would then score 35 unanswered points before Penn Charter’s Dominic Comitale caught an 18-yard fourth quarter TD pass from Nate Hartman to end the scoring in Malvern Prep’s 42-14 win.
McGlinchey completed 10-of-14 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown. Comitale and linebacker Hugh Maley led the Quakers with six tackles each,
“We felt like we had to get off to a good start,” Penn Charter coach Tom Coyle said.
That all worked early, but then Malvern Prep foiled the plan, especially the defensive line.
“Their defensive line is unbelievable,” Coyle said. “Both lines are tough, but their defensive line had some really good high school players.”
Coyle said it’s on to next week, something he won’t be doing for much longer.
It was announced last week that Coyle will be returning to his alma mater Father Judge to serve as athletic director. The Inter-Ac season ends Nov. 9 with Penn Charter’s longstanding rivalry game against Germantown Academy. On that following Monday, Nov. 11, Coyle will begin his new job at Father Judge.
Coyle, 55, began his coaching career at Penn Charter working as an assistant coach for 13 years.
He then became the head football coach and director of admissions for 13 years at Father Judge before returning to Penn Charter. In addition to being the head football coach for 12 years, Coyle has served as Assistant Director of Admissions/Athletics Liaison.
It was important to Coyle that he completed his football season at Penn Charter before departing.
Penn Charter head coach Tom Coyle will take on new role as athletic director at Father Judge High School on Nov. 11th - PSD Photo by Chelby Elam
“I couldn’t be more appreciative of both schools,” Coyle said. “Father Judge has been extremely patient and everybody from our head of school Dr. (Karen Warren) Coleman have been very gracious to allow me to close my time at Penn Charter. “
He said it was extremely difficult telling his football players of the move.
“You never want to be a distraction, but it’s been a little distraction, and our kids have continued to show great drive and focus,” he said. “I have been so fortunate to coach so many great kids at Penn Charter.”
He is going to savor his remaining time at Penn Charter, which includes two more games.
“It is going to be a great two weeks, and it is about our senior football players,” he said. “Afterward I will take a moment to reflect that I have been a part of two great places.”
Next: Saturday vs. Haverford School, 2 p.m.
Pick 6: SCH makes several adjustments in close call against Haverford School
Despite losing to Haverford School, 28-21, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy coach Rick Knox could appreciated the quality of play.
“It was a really good high school football game,” he said.
Of course, not with the outcome he wanted, but Knox had to do some serious shifting.
Top running back Finn Whittle was out with an injury. Quarterback Liam Zelman injured his elbow and couldn’t throw the ball so he was replaced by junior Joey Markey, who had been playing wide receiver.
“Markey played quarterback growing up and he did very well for us,” Knox said.
Against Haverford School, Markey completed 10-of-19 passes for 209 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, and one two-point conversion. Junior Aaron Clark caught all the passes – 10 for 209 yards and two TDs. Joe Flach caught the two-point conversion and also scored on an interception return.
Haverford School vs. Springside Chestnut Hill Academy - PSD Gallery by Ryan Nix
Zelman also contributed at running back with 34 yards on 13 carries.
Next: Saturday vs. Episcopal Academy, 1 p.m.
Inter-Ac Standings:
Malvern Prep 3-0, 6-2
Springside Chestnut Hill Academy 2-1, 7-1
Haverford School 2-1, 5-3
Penn Charter 1-2, 6-2
Episcopal Academy 1-2, 3-5
Germantown Academy 0-3, 4-4
Special thanks to Ed “Huck” Palmer for Penn Charter and Malvern Prep Stats. To Dan Moyer for Haverford School stats and to Mike McNulty for Episcopal Academy statistics. Also thanks to coaches Rick Knox (Springside Chestnut Hill Academy) and Kyle Donahue (Germantown Academy for their statistics.