FOOTBALL: Inter-Ac Play Begins with Wins Coming from Penn Charter, Episcopal Academy and Malvern Prep

Photos: Zamani Feelings, Ryan Nix, Kathy Leister & Krystal Williams

By: Marc Narducci

The Inter-Ac football schedule got underway over the weekend, a five-game sprint to determine the league champion. There were some outstanding performances in the first week of action. So welcome once again to the Inter-Ac Pick-6, kick back and we hope you enjoy the coverage, where the race to the top consists of five action-packed weeks in this highly competitive league.

Pick 1: Penn Charter’s McGlinchey excelling at a variety of positions

For the previous two seasons Penn Charter senior Tom McGlinchey was a mainstay at quarterback. This year, his role has somewhat changed, but his effectiveness remains at a high level.

The 6-foot-6, 230-pound McGlinchey played a pivotal role as Penn Charter opened its Inter-Ac season with a 14-0 win over Haverford School. The Quakers presented first-year head coach CJ Yespelkis with a win in his initial Inter-Ac game.

Penn Charter senior quarterback Tom McGlinchey #8 is getting reps at tight end and linebacker this season - PSD Photo by Zamani Feelings

McGlinchey, a Northwestern commit, has switched this season primarily to tight end, while also playing linebacker.

So, when he was approached by Yespelkis to change position, McGlinchey was all-in.

“I kind of rolled with the punches,” he said. “I wanted to do whatever would help the team.”

For most of this season he has been playing tight end, but Yespelkis told him not to totally abandon thoughts of getting under center. And it came to fruition against Haverford School.

While Nathan Hartman played most of the game at quarterback, Yespelkis had a few packages for McGlinchey.

For the game, McGlinchey completed 3-of-5 passes for 34 yards, which included a 19-yard touchdown to sophomore Kingston Roundtree.

“It felt good, and I was playing quarterback with confidence and letting it rip,” McGlinchey said. “I hadn’t played much this year, and it was something we put together this week to change things up and get things rolling.”

McGlinchey is happy to play any position.

“Since I have been playing football, I have always been willing to play anywhere and I think this kind of flexibility has been a strength,” McGlinchey said. “I will play wherever I am needed.”

In the game, he also caught a pass for 19 yards, had four tackles, including two tackles for loss. What was most exciting for McGlinchey was seeing Yespelkis, who was an assistant coach the previous 14 years at Episcopal Academy, earn his first Inter-Ac win as a head coach.

“It was the coolest feeling ever,” he said. “Coach was really excited, and our sideline was pumped, and everybody was pumped up about the win.”

Penn Charter’s first touchdown came on a 40-yard run by junior Christian Downs, who gained 77 yards on 18 carries.

The Quakers, now 3-3 overall, caused five turnovers, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries, in earning their first shutout of the season.

Augie Turner led the way with 11 tackles. Roundtree, A.J. Bouie and Jack Tyer each recorded interceptions. Bouie and Noah Hall added fumble recoveries.

It was Bouie, a 6-1, 260-pound junior nose tackle, who was especially disruptive. He also contributed six tackles, and tied up multiple blockers, freeing his teammates to make plays.

“He was unstoppable,” Yespelkis said. “He caused so many problems. He was a real menace and has been good for us all season.”

Penn Charter senior Augie Turner #25 led the way with 11 tackles in the win vs. Haverford School - PSD Photo by Krystal Williams

As for McGlinchey, one reason the change to tight end was so seamless, was that it is the position he will play in college. When he was being recruited, schools were suggesting that tight end would be his best position.

There was only one problem. He didn’t have any highlights to show schools of him at tight end, so he became creative during the recruiting process, making his own tape of him doing tight end-type workouts.

“My brother was home for my cousin’s bachelor party, and he went to school and (recorded) me blocking and doing typical tight end stuff,” McGlinchey said. “I sent that out to schools and more reached out, and many came to work me out in person.”

It all paid off when he committed to Northwestern at the end of June.

Yespelkis is especially appreciative to have somebody like McGlinchey, not only for his many skills, but his team-first attitude.

“He will do whatever it takes to win,” Yespelkis said. “He is giving our offense the best fit.”

Penn Charter vs. Haverford School - PSD Gallery by Krystal Williams

Up next: Saturday, 1 p.m. vs. Episcopal Academy.

Pick 2: Howard and McFadden with strong performances for SCH

Springside Chestnut Hill Academy lost its Inter-Ac opener 35-14 to Episcopal Academy in a game that was closer than the final score indicated. It was tied 14-14 with eight minutes left in the third quarter after the Blue Devils’ Harry Kull scored on a fumble return. From there, Episcopal Academy would score three touchdowns to put the game away.

There were several players who performed well in defeat, including sophomore running back Will Howard and junior linebacker Colin McFadden.

Howard had 16 carries for 128 yards and scored on a 10-yard touchdown run. For the season he has rushed for 873 yards and nine touchdowns on 118 carries.

McFadden had an insane game on defense. He recorded eight tackles, three sacks and forced the fumble that led to Kull’s touchdown.

McFadden had eight tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble that led to the TD.

SCH junior Colin McFadden #6 recorded 8 tackles, 3 sacks and forced a fumble in opener vs. Episcopal Academy - PSD Photo by Ryan Nix

Veteran coach Rick Knox said his team certainly had its good moments, but field position was a problem all game.

“We were needing to drive, 80-90 yards and from that standpoint, they outplayed us, and we didn’t execute well,” Knox said.

Up Next: Saturday, 2 p.m. vs. Germantown Academy.

Pick 3: Churchmen keep rolling

Episcopal Academy opened its Inter-Ac schedule with a 35-14 victory over Springside Chestnut Hill Academy. That improved the Churchmen to 6-0 overall and they have won every game by 16 points or more.

With eight minutes to go in the third quarter, the score was tied 14-14 after SCH returned a fumble for a touchdown. EA took the lead on a rushing touchdown with five minutes to go in the third quarter and put the game away with two rushing TDs in the fourth.

“SCH is a talented team, and offensively, we were able to run the ball well,” EA coach Todd Fairlie said.

The Churchmen rushed for 209 yards and three touchdowns on 31 carries for a hefty 6.7 average.

Senior Jamil Abdul-Malik rushed for 82 yards and two touchdowns on just six attempts. Junior A’ahzere Lucas also rushed for 82 yards, on 16 carries and he added a touchdown.

EA had a good pass-run balance. Junior Jackson Solley completed 10 of 12 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Jackson Orcutt had four receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown, while senior Jahmir Brown had three receptions for 35 yards and a score.

Abdul-Malik led the defense with nine tackles.

Senior cornerback Brody Garrison, who plays a variety of positions, was a defensive standout as well, with three tackles, including two tackles for loss, one pass breakup and one interception.

Episcopal Academy vs. Springside Chestnut Hill - PSD Gallery by Ryan Nix

EA touchdown scored by #8 A’ahzere Lucas PSD Video by Ryan Nix

The Churchmen are getting the reputation as a second half team, although they are not too bad in the first half either. Against SCH, Episcopal Academy turned things up after the game-tying third quarter fumble return for a TD.

“We have been able to pull away in three of our games when things pretty equal,” Fairlie said. “In all the games, we won the second half.”

Up Next: Saturday, 1 p.m. at Penn Charter

Pick 4: Friars open title defense in a strong fashion

Two-time defending champion Malvern Prep opened its Inter-Ac schedule with a 42-13 win over Germantown Academy. Junior Cade Cooper had nine receptions for 151 yards and two touchdowns. Cooper scored both touchdowns in the first quarter on passes of 15 and 18 yards from quarterback Jackson Melconian. It was a season high in receptions and yards for Cooper, who has 31 catches for 451 yards and five touchdowns in six games.

It was a big game for Melconian, a Vanderbilt baseball commit. He completed 17 of 24 passes for 270 yards and three touchdowns. Dylan Novak added an 18-yard scoring pass from Melconian, who has thrown 10 TD passes this season.

Defensively, Naim Hammond had four tackles, including three tackles for loss, which included two sacks.

Malvern Prep has now won five in a row following an opening 42-35 loss to La Salle in Ocean City.

The 42 points scored against Germantown Academy was a season-high.

Malvern Prep vs. Germantown Academy - PSD Highlights by Kathy Leister

Up next: Saturday, 1 p.m. vs Haverford

Pick 5: GA’s McKee off to sizzling start

Germantown Academy didn’t have the easiest of Inter-Ac openers having to face two-time defending league champion Malvern Prep. While the Patriots fell to Malvern, 42-13, there were some positive signs.

“I wanted to see fight, and I saw fight,” said GA second-year coach Kyle Donahue. “We have a lot to clean up in four last four Inter-Ac games, but I am excited about the next four opportunities.”

The game was a continuation of the big season for senior receiver-defensive back Mick McKee, a Lehigh commit. McKee, who is also the starting basketball point guard, is an outstanding athlete. He showed it again against the Friars by scoring both touchdowns, on a 98-yard kickoff return and a 12-yard pass from Rutgers commit Xavier Stearn.

McKee caught five passes for 50 yards and one touchdown, while also contributing three tackles against the Friars. For the season he has 40 receptions for 627 yards and nine touchdowns, with two more TDs on returns for the 3-3 Patriots.

“Mick has played great,” Donahue said. “He doesn’t come off the field, playing offense, defense and every special team.”

This is a team that despite the presence of veterans McKee and Stearn (10 of 18 passing, 110 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions), that is a relatively young group.

Germantown Academy vs. Malvern Prep - PSD Gallery by Kathy Leister

GA started five freshmen on offense, including tight end Mason Dolder, who had three receptions for 27 yards.

One of the defensive leaders was junior lineman Matthew Hadlock, who had four tackles.

“I thought he had a coming out party,” Donahue said of Hadlock. “He really played well.”

It’s never the easiest of tasks to open league play with a powerhouse, but Donahue says it comes with the territory.

“Malvern Prep is a top team in the state, and I think the world of them,” he said. “Playing them gave us a first opportunity to see what our guys are made of.”

And what he discovered is that they are made of plenty of fight, an attribute that will help for the remainder of the Inter-Ac season.

Up next: Saturday, 2 p.m. at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy.

Pick 6: Walking wounded at Haverford School

This is Brian Martin’s sixth season as head coach at Haverford School, and he has been involved with the program for 17 years. In that time, Martin has never experienced an injury bug like the one the Fords have faced.

Haverford School lost its Inter-Ac opener, 14-0 to Penn Charter and may have suffered another key setback when running back Jaidyn Rivera suffered a knee injury. Rivera had 16 carries for 37 yards against Penn Charter before suffering the injury.

Still, Martin had great respect for the victors.

“Give Penn Charter credit, they came out firing,” Martin said.

Haverford School running back Jaidyn Rivera #1 - PSD Photo by Krystal Williams

Haverford School committed five turnovers and dropped a potential TD pass. That dropped the Fords’ overall record to 3-3.

This season one of the top players, tight end Quinn Gallagher, who is headed to Columbia, has only played one game due to injury. Probably the most dynamic player, receiver-safety-long snapper Matt Jones is out with a dislocated shoulder. Martin hopes to have him back before the end of the season.

“I’ve never had anything like this with all these injuries,” Martin said. “We have had at least 10 guys out a week.”

One person who has drawn the eye of recruiters is junior receiver-safety Marcus Jones, the brother of Matt. According to Martin, Marcus Jones has received offers from Syracuse and Maryland. Against Penn Charter he had six receptions for 76 yards.

Up next: Saturday 1 p.m. at Malvern Prep

Special thanks to Huck Palmer for providing statistics for Penn Charter and Malvern Prep. Also thanks to Zachary Zighelboim for Germantown Academy stats, coach Rick Knox for SCH statistics, Mike McNulty for Episcopal Academy stats and Dan Moyer for Haverford School statistics.