Thorough. Dominant. Robotical.
Choose any of the three adjectives above and that would help describe Haverford School’s 31-14, Inter-Academic League triumph over host Malvern Prep on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon. The victory was the Fords’ fourth straight over Malvern and sixth in the past seven years. Dating back to last fall, the Fords’ overall victory streak is now at 16.
Played before a packed house that necessitated superfluous parking throughout Malvern’s sprawling campus, the Fords’ effort sullied the host Friars’ Homecoming Weekend.
“We knew what we were up against,” said sophomore defensive end Colin Hurlbrink. “We had a lot of preparation. We went over film. Our defensive line coach (James Creed) did a great job of getting the defense ready for this.”
Photo courtesy of a Haverford parent.
Hurlbrink was part of a defensive front that included sophomore nose guard Anthony Reginelli, senior end Frank Cresta, and senior tackle Brian Denoncour. The quad helped keep Malvern’s vaunted running game in check. Linebackers Mickey Kober (senior), Ben Stallworth (sophomore), and Chris Kober (junior) patrolled the middle while the secondary of senior Micah Sims, junior Aaron Hudson, senior Keyveat Postell, and senior Dox Aitken wreaked havoc in the Friars’ passing game.
During the first 14 minutes of the second half, the Fords outgained the Friars in yardage by 165 to 25, during which they turned a misleadingly close 17-7 edge into a 31-7 romp. Those 14 points were engineered by quarterback Tommy Toal, a 65-yard connection with Postell early in the third quarter, and a 12-yard strike to wide-open junior Eli Godfrey two minutes into the fourth.
For the fourth straight game since taking over the QB reins, Toal was once again electrifying. Against a very competent Malvern defense, the junior completed 23 of 32 passes for 324 yards and four touchdowns. A huge chunk of his yardage were gained after short passes. Toal’s second TD, a 55-yarder to Aitken late in the first quarter, was a short dish to his left, with Aitken using a stiff-arm at midfield before racing untouched down the left sideline. In the 65-yarder to Postell (he also caught a 13-yard score in the first quarter), Toal’s pass was caught at the 40 before Postell outraced the Friars down the right sideline.
“Those guys did a great job,” said Toal. “It starts with protection, and our offensive line did a great job of getting me some time to make throws. Then my receivers made it easy for me. They’re playmakers. I just try to get them the ball and let them do the rest.”
During his post-game remarks, Haverford coach Mike Murphy lauded his players for their effort before reminding them that “three dogfights” await them into November, referring to contests versus Springside/Chestnut Hill on October 31, Germantown Academy on Nov. 7, and Episcopal on November 14.
Murphy also addressed the fact that Haverford’s seniors finished 4-0 against Malvern Prep and wondered aloud if any other team could make the same claim. According to legendary sportswriter Ted Silary, whose tedsilary.com website focuses on the Inter-Academic, Catholic, and Public Leagues, Malvern Prep lost to Germantown Academy four straight seasons from 1966 through 1969.
“It’s a great accomplishment, but I’d like to think that the (Haverford School) program is now established,” said Murphy, whose Fords have won 19 of their past 20 games. “The challenge now is not to let it slip.
Haverford's head coach Mike Murphy - Photo courtesy of a Haverford parent
“I told the players to look around. We had a lot of alums at this game. We owe it to them to keep this thing going.”
Reginelli is among a slew of underclassmen who have blended with upperclassmen to help make this a potentially storied season for Haverford School. Reginelli said he and his teammates are completely on board with the Fords’ mission, both short term and long term.
“We were coming off a great week of practice, but that isn’t uncommon,” Reginelli said. “We try to get better every day. Everything kind of clicked today. Anything they tried to do, we were able to blow it up.
“It’s definitely helpful to have a lot of guys with experience helping us become better players. What they give to us, we learn from, and then we will take that and give it to the other guys when it’s their turn. It’s a great thing.”
(John Knebels can be reached at jknebels@gmail.com.)
*All photos in the slideshow below were taken courtesy of a Haverford parent*
