INTER-AC PICK SIX: MALVERN PREP KEEPS ROLLING, SCH KEEPS RUNNING, HAVERFORD SCHOOL GETS A BIG W, GERMANTOWN ACADEMY WITH A RECORD-SETTING QB, EPISCOPAL ACADEMY AND PENN CHARTER LOOKING FOR BOUNCE-BACK PERFORMANCES
Photos: Allie Riches and Marc Narducci
By: Marc Narducci
Two-time defending champion, Malvern Prep came out on top in a major showdown to highlight action in Week 3 of the Inter-Ac season. That begins our Pick-Six coverage as in a continuing story, the Friars won yet another big game.
PICK 1: MALVERN PREP COMES UP BIG – AGAIN
As for atmosphere, nothing could beat Friday’s game between Malvern Prep and host Episcopal Academy. It was a packed house with the final two Inter-Ac unbeatens squaring off.
Both teams won their first two Inter-Ac games, so first place was on the line. The first quarter was a tense scoreless battle, but then Malvern Prep took command of the game.
The Friars took a 10-0 lead at the half and went on to earn a 24-0 victory.
Malvern Prep RB Zeke Bates #2 and QB Jackson Melconian #11 - PSD Photo by Kathy Leister
There are still some hurdles for Malvern Prep to clear, but this was a big one in helping the Friars extend their Inter-Ac win streak to 14 games.
“It was a great atmosphere, a ton of people were there and there was a lot of energy,” Malven Prep coach Dave Gueriera said. “I love playing there.”
With his team, Gueriera should love playing anywhere.
The offensive catalyst was running back Zeke Bates, who rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries. A Minnesota commit, Bates opened the scoring with a 20-yard touchdown run.
“He is resilient,” Gueriera said of the 6-foot, 215-pound Bates. “He has been dealing with a hamstring injury and has worked hard to get back.”
Normally a strong safety as well, Bates has been limited to playing just offense, but as the statistics show, he’s more than able to carry the load.
“He’s built like a brick house,” Gueriera said. “The combination of size and speed is why he is going where he is going.”
For the season he has rushed for 752 yards and 10 touchdowns on 122 carries.
The Friars also received a 25-yard field goal from Ian Gopez late in the first half. They also scored second half touchdowns on a 1-yard run by Will Simmons and an 18-yard TD run by quarterback Jackson Melconian.
For the game Melconian ran for 57 yards and the one TD on eight carries and completed 9-of-17 passes for 122 yards.
Defensively, the Friars bottled up a talented offense for an Episcopal Academy team that is now 7-1 and 2-1 in the inter-Ac.
Simmons at linebacker led the way with nine tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss, along with an interception and a forced fumble. Fellow linebacker Max Mohring, a Kentucky commit, had five tackles, an interception and three pass breakups.
“Those two were outstanding,” Gueriera said.
So were cornerbacks Trey Gibson and Jack Schuster, who were a big part in helping limit EA to 77 yards passing. Gibson made three tackles and blanked the Churchmen receivers. Schuster had five tackles and three pass breakups.
Malvern Prep vs. Episcopal Academy - PSD Photos by Allie Riches
Now Malvern Prep is in the driver’s seat, but don’t tell that to Gueriera.
“The best part of the Inter-Ac is that every week is like a playoff game,” Gueriera said. “This is not the time to take your hand off the wheel.”
Next: Saturday, 1 p.m. vs. Penn Charter.
PICK 2: RECORD-SETTING DAY FOR GA QB
Germantown Academy suffered a 30-13 loss at Haverford School that was much closer than the final score indicated, but quarterback Xavier Stearn put his name in the record books.
Germantown Academy quarterback Xavier Stearn #14 - PSD Photo by Mark Narducci
Stearn, the 6-6, 215-pound senior with a rife arm, became the all-time Inter-Ac leader in passing yards. A Rutgers commit, Stearn now has 6,304 career passing yards. He surpassed Michael “Neeko” Hnatkowky of Penn Charter.
As for the game itself, the Patriots had a chance to take the lead late in the fourth quarter. Trailing 17-13, Germantown Academy missed on a red zone opportunity. Haverford School then scored two late touchdowns to put things away.
“Credit to the seniors, we have been through every situation here and these guys kept playing hard,” coach Kyle Donahue said.
One of those who played extremely hard was senior receiver Mick McKee, who had nine receptions for 133 yards and a touchdown. Classmate Joshua Cain added five receptions for 69 yards.
Next: Saturday 1 p.m. vs Episcopal Academy
PICK 3: SCH PUTS FORTH ITS BEST EFFORT
Springside Chestnut Hill Academy picked an opportune time for its top showing of the season. The Blue Devils were strong on both sides of the ball during a 42-7 win over Penn Charter.
“This was our best game of the year in all phases of the game,” said SCH coach Rick Knox, whose team is 4-4 overall and 2-1 in the Inter-Ac.
SCH senior quarterback Liam Zelman #10 and sophomore running back Will Howard #5 - PSD Photo by Krystal Williams
Quarterback Liam Zelman completed 8 of 11 passes for 88 yards and a TD. He also rushed for 95 yards and four touchdowns on 18 carries. The TD pass was 45 yards to Buffalo commit Aaron Clark.
The 6-3, 215-pound Zelman is a Holy Cross commit.
“He is a big, strong physical kid with a great arm,” Knox said. “I am old school with how I call offense, and I am sure Liam would like to throw more, but high school football is a running attack and a great defense and then you make splash plays when you have the opportunity to.”
Knox said that Zelman’s versatility is what caught the eye of the Holy Cross coaches.
“They like his dual-threat ability,” Knox said.
It was another big game for sophomore running back Will Howard, who rushed for 192 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries.
Defensive end Amari Fallen was dominant against the Quakers. He had three of SCH’s five sacks. Asa Zimmerman and Isaiah Moore contributed interceptions.
If SCH wins this week against Haverford School, the Blue Devils will assure themselves of having a chance to play for at least a tie for the Inter-Ac crown when they host Malvern Prep in their regular season finale.
Sorry, but Knox can’t see that far ahead.
“In this league, you can only take things one game at a time,” he said.
Next: Saturday 1 p.m. vs. Haverford School
PICK 4: EPISCOPAL ACADEMY LOOKING TO BOUNCE BACK
There wasn’t much to take out of Episcopal Academy’s 24-0 loss to Malvern Prep, except for the effort by the Churchmen.
“It was a tough game, but our kids competed well,” EA coach Todd Fairlie said. “They contested everything, competed really hard and made Malvern earn everything the got.”
Like Malvern Prep coach Gueriera, Fairlie said this was a big-game atmosphere Friday night at Episcopal Academy.
“It was a packed house, a great atmosphere and it was realty good for the league,” Fairlie said.
And while the loss was tough, especially since it was the first of the year for the 7-1, 2-1 Churchmen, Fairlie is hoping the defeat wasn’t in vain.
Episcopal Academy's student section was full of life under the Friday night lights - PSD Photo by Allie Riches
“You learn from it and no doubt our kids will be ready for the task of getting back on track,” Fairlie said.
Leading the effort was linebacker Jamil Abdul-Malik, who recorded 14 tackles. Jackson Orcutt added four pass breakups and was the offensive leader with six receptions for 35 yards.
Next: Saturday, 1 p.m. at Germantown Academy
PICK 5: TOUGH STRETCH FOR THE QUAKERS
Penn Charter was coming off a tough 31-24 loss to Episcopal Academy when having to face a Springside Chestnut Hill Academy team that simply decided to play its best game of the year.
It resulted in a 42-7 loss to SCH.
Now the path is no easier. This week the Quakers have to visit unbeaten Malvern Prep. The cumulative Inter-Ac record of EA, SCH and Malvern Prep is 7-2.
Penn Charter QB Nathan Hartman #2 hands off the ball to RB Kristian Athill #4 - PSD Photo by Zamani Feelings
“The key against Springside Chestnut Hill Academy is that we weren’t ready to start the game,” said Penn Charter coach CJ Yespelkis.
SCH quickly jumped out to a 13-0 lead.
“Last week (against Episcopal Academy) we went up 14-0, so we figured it was the reserve situation but felt we could come back,” Yespelkis said.
Actually, the Quakers did for a moment.
Kristian Athill capped a long drive with a 2-yard touchdown run and it was 13-7.
That is when SCH took over for good, scoring the game’s final 29 points.
“We knew we had to stop the run and loaded the box, but they still did what they wanted to running the ball,” Yespelkis said.
The Quakers had some success passing the ball. Nathan Hartman was 3-for-5 for 70 yards and Tom McGlinchey went 6-for-13 for 94 yards.
Yet it was tough to run the ball on SCH, which yielded just 29 yards rushing.
Jack Magee led the defense with eight tackles, while McGlinchey had seven and also blocked a PAT. Defensive lineman AJ Bouie added six tackles, including one tackle for loss.
Now it is on to Malvern Prep
“We hope our seniors will show leadership, step up and we play our best football,” Yespelkis said.
He understands his team will be the underdog, but then again, just about every team is in that position when facing Malvern Prep. Penn Charter can play loose and freely, since the Quakers have nothing to lose.
Penn Charter defensive lineman AJ Bouie #54 - PSD Photo by Zamani Feelings
Now it is on to Malvern Prep
“We hope our seniors will show leadership, step up and we play our best football,” Yespelkis said.
He understands his team will be the underdog, but then again, just about every team is in that position when facing Malvern Prep. Penn Charter can play loose and freely, since the Quakers have nothing to lose.
“The difference between getting throttled and playing good football can be a thin margin and it can be the confidence a team needs to make the big play,” Yespelkis said. “Hopefully we can play loose, and confident.”
Next: Saturday, 1 p.m. at Malvern Prep
PICK 6: WELCOME BACK MATT JONES
Oh, how did Haverford School miss senior wide receiver-safety Matt Jones.
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Jones had missed the previous three games due to injury.
Last week, Haverford School eased Jones back into the lineup, only playing him on offense and usually only in certain passing situations.
After not seeing much action in the first half, Jones exploded in the final two quarters.
He ended with four receptions for 93 yards and two touchdowns in the Fords’ 30-13 win over Germantown Academy. The TD receptions were 29 and 23 yards from senior Zach Faragalli, who threw for 146 yards and the two scores.
“It felt great to return,” Jones said. “It wasn’t a good feeling sitting on the bench these last few weeks and to contribute to our first Inter-Ac win was huge.”
The ground game was also a big part of the win. Freshman Mick Slachta rushed for 111 yards on 14 carries and scored on a 55-yard run. Sophomore Simeon Cobb had 38 yards on 14 carries.
On the defensive side, lineman Phil Okala had a couple of sacks along with a fumble recover and junior linebacker Topher Jodz scored on an interception return on the first play from scrimmage.
Yet the story of the game was Jones and his big return to the lineup.
Jones, who has received offers from Lehigh and Lafayette, is being looked on as a potential linebacker in college according to Haverford School coach Brian Martin.
A few more games like last week and maybe schools will look at Jones as a receiver.
“He looked like he was in midseason form,” Martin said. “Every time he caught the ball, you would hold your breath.”
So would the opponent.
Jones will play whatever position his future college team wants, but he admits to having a deep passion for the receiver position. It runs in the family. His brother Marcus Jones is a junior at Haverford School receiver-safety and is considered among the better juniors in the area.
Then there is the father Isaac Jones, who first starred at Strath Haven, then enjoyed a great career at Purdue, where his quarterback was future NFL Hall of Famer Drew Brees. At Purdue he had 140 career receptions for 1.638 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Isaac Jones then played briefly for the Indianapolis Colts.
“I love playing receiver and we have a family of receivers and offense has come naturally to us,” Matt Jones said.
Haverford School #58 Philip Okala ready to sack GA QB Xavier Stearn - PSD Photo by Marc Narducci
Haverford School RB #14 Simeon Cobb - PSD Photo by Marc Narducci
Haverford School S/WR Matthew Jones #33 - PSD photo by Mike Nance
Jones is hoping to make the most of his final two Inter-Ac games. He also hopes that he can see some time on D.
Either way, this past week’s game is one he will remember for a long time. Now he has two more games to add to the memory list.
“We only have two more weeks, and I hope that by our last game against Episcopal Academy that I can go full swing,” he said. “I would love to leave it out there, going both ways.”
Next: Saturday, 1 p.m. at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy
Inter-Ac Standings:
Malvern Prep 3-0, 7-1
Episcopal Academy 2-1, 7-1
Springside Chestnut Hill Academy 2-1, 4-4
Haverford School 1-2, 4-4
Penn Charter 1-2, 3-5
Germantown Academy 0-3, 3-5
Special thanks to Huck Palmer for providing statistics for Penn Charter and Malvern Prep. Also thanks to Zach Zighelboim for Germantown Academy stats, coach Rick Knox for SCH statistics, Mike McNulty for Episcopal Academy stats and Dan Moyer for Haverford School statistics.