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FOOTBALL: Malvern Prep Secures Win in Inter-Ac League Opener against Penn Charter

By Dan McCarty, 10/16/17, 9:15PM EDT

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Penn Charter's Brendan Thomas makes catch for a first down. (photo-Dan McCarty)

MALVERN, PA-- The Malvern Prep Friars began their Inter-Ac League action on a strong note on Homecoming Saturday, October 14. Preparation combined with solid offense and defense resulted in the Friars’ (2-4, 1-0) 23-9 win over the William Penn Charter Quakers. After tough losses in non-league action, they were ready to seal some league victories.

“We had a hard schedule outside of the Inter-Ac League,” said senior running back O’Shaan Allison. “We played a lot of good teams. I felt really good.”

Allison finished with two touchdowns and went 170 yards with 31 carries.

“With the energy we had up front, good things happened,” said Allison.

While Malvern was able to get the result, it wanted on this Homecoming Day, there were times when the Friars could have been more consistent, especially during the second half. Nevertheless, a strong end to the first half was enough.

 “We played solid defense and made offensive plays when we had too,” said Malvern’s first-year head coach Dave Gueriera. “I think we need to be more consistent on offense. Malvern does a nice job with its Homecoming. I’m glad we got the win.”

Penn Charter (5-1, 0-1), dropped its first decision of the season on the day.

“We played a good physical team,” said Penn Charter head coach Tom Coyle. “Defensively, we played well. Offensively, we didn’t have the rhythm. We missed out on opportunities.”

The first quarter came and went with no score. The Friars gradually settled down as the second quarter progressed. A 15-yard penalty against the Quakers in the middle of the quarter gave Malvern good possession at its own 49-yard line. Quinn McMahon carried the ball to the 37-yard line for a first down. Allison picked up five yards on the next play before he got a first down at the 20. McMahon caught the ball down at the 8-yard line and quarterback Drew Gunther passed the ball to Keith Maguire for an eight-yard touchdown with 5:52 to play in the opening half. Garrett Reilly kicked the extra point for a 7-0 advantage.

“The touchdown was big” said Maguire. “It got us going.”

Malvern's senior running back O'Shaan Allison goes in for the TD (video-Dan McCarty)

Penn Charter did not hang on to the ball for long as Maguire made an interception deep in Quaker territory and carried it to the 7-yard line. Although there was a loss of 18 yards, Allison got down to the three-yard line before going in for a touchdown with 3:18 in the half.

The Quakers began their drive at their 20 but Malvern chased the ball in to the end zone. Edward Saydee recovered the ball for Penn Charter but Malvern’s Ryan Betz got the safety just eight seconds after the previous touchdown extending the lead to 16-0.

MP senior Garrett Reilly's kick is good propelling the Friars' lead (video-Dan McCarty)

Joe Carpenter reached Penn Charter’s 45-yard line on the return for Malvern. Quincy Watson secured a first down before Allison went 35 yards for his second touchdown of the afternoon with 2:20 in the stanza.

Penn Charter proved that the first half was still not over. Gavin Tygh carried the ball to the Quakers’ 34-yard line. Saydee got a first down at the Malvern 39. Quarterback Will Samuel then completed a 39-yard touchdown pass to John Washington with 1:40 on the clock to make the score 23-6 at halftime.

Defense dominated throughout the second half. The score did not change for much of the third quarter. The Quakers had the ball on fourth down late in the quarter and Samuel completed a pass to Terence Thompson at the Friars’ 18-yard line. Saydee picked up a first down at the eight but was tackled by Cole McCabe at the one. A five-yard loss forced Thompson to kick a 24-yard field goal with 1:02 in the quarter and that turned out to be the game.

“We could have had a better second half,” said Maguire.” It was a good start.”

Looking ahead, Malvern travels to the home of Episcopal Academy Friday, October 21, at 7:00 PM.

“We feel good,” said Allison. “We’ll keep it at that and see what we can do next week.”

In more league action, Penn Charter takes on host Haverford School Saturday at 2:00 PM. The Quakers have a young team this year and so that can make each week all the more unpredictable.

“We’re getting better each week,” said Coyle. “It’s a tough league.”