MALVERN PREP vs. PENN CHARTER (photos by Mike Gray for PSD).
By: John Knebels
PHILADELPHIA – Malvern Prep seemed to be in complete control, but Inter-Academic League football games have a tendency to stray off script and suddenly provoke unforeseen drama.
On a chilly Friday afternoon, the visiting Friars led Penn Charter by scores of 20-0 and, at halftime, 29-10. The Quakers would need a quick infusion of confidence, and after junior quarterback Kyle Jones found senior Brendan Thomas with a five-yard touchdown pass, Malvern’s lead had dwindled to 29-17. Worse, the Friars could not move the chains, and out strode standout senior punter/placekicker Sebastian Constantini.
With the boisterous crowd now sensing a potential upset, Constantini nailed a long punt that pinned the Quakers inside the two-yard line. A minute later, senior star linebacker Keith Maguire tackled a Penn Quaker runner in the end zone for a two-point safety.
Just like that, the momentum had swung back to Malvern, and this time, the Friars (7-0 overall, 1-0 Inter-Ac) did not flinch, winning 51-17 for their 12th consecutive victory dating back to last fall and 10th straight league win since 2016.
Malvern's Sebastian Constantini booms a 33-yeard field goal to extend the lead (video by John Knebels for PSD).
MP senior Sebastian Constantini talks about his clutch punt that led to a safety {video-by John Knebels for PSD).
As they huddled together and awaited the traditional post-game prayer led by legendary team chaplain Father Jim Flynn, OSA, the Friars waxed calm, cool, and collected.
“We came out at halftime a little slow,” said Malvern senior quarterback Drew Gunther. “We got that safety after a great punt by Sebastian, and then we took a deep breath and kind of put the foot back on the gas and kept it rolling.”
Malvern Prep senior QB Drew Gunther praises his teammates after a decisive triumph (video- John Knebels for PSD).
The Friars started early. A 55-yard touchdown pass from Gunther to sophomore Lonnie White, a 14-yard TD run by senior Quincy Watson, and an outstanding punt block and recovery in the end zone by freshman D’Angelo Stocker forged a 20-0, first-quarter lead.
A 15-yard run by Jones (14 of 18, 165 yards, touchdown’ 13 rushes for 73 yards) was immediately followed by a 42-yard hook-up from Gunther (10 of 16, 222 yards, two scores) to junior Tyler Tinson. Down 26-7 late in the second quarter, Penn Charter elected for a 22-yard field goal by junior Ryan Holmes to hopefully enter the locker room down by two scores.
Penn Charter QB Kyle Jones connects with Brendan Thomas on a touchdown pass (video - John Knebels for PSD).
Malvern, however, quickly drove down the field and increased its lead to 29-10 on a 33-yard field goal by Constantini. Then came the see-saw momentum shift, followed by two more scores by Watson and a nifty 58-yard run by sophomore Cooper Frankenheimer to close the scoring.
“We had a lot of confidence going into week,” said two way senior lineman Harry Stinger. “We knew that Penn Charter was going to come out fierce and ready to battle, but we were ready to battle as well. We were confident throughout the whole entire game. We knew that we just needed to settle down and just play our game and not let this get out of hand.”
As did several teammates, Stinger cited Constantini’s perfectly placed punt as a key factor.
Two-way starter Harry Stinger summarizes Malvern Prep's impressive effort (video by John Knebels for PSD).
“That punt was huge,” said Stinger. “It led us to a safety. We thought that they were getting some momentum and we knew if we’d just play our game, it would turn out all right. It was a huge play, and congrats to Sebastian.”
Constantini, who has received several Division I offers to kick in college, appreciated his teammates’ praise.
“It really sparked us,” said Constantini. “Most of my teammates even told me, ‘You just got us two points. You just changed the momentum of the game.’”
Consantini admitted that kicking isn’t the easiest position on a football team.
“It’s a bit nerve wracking, but you gotta learn to control that because nothing is in your control during the game except for when you go out on the field,” he said. “I just knew that when I had my moment, I had to capitalize.”
Moderately excited after his first career three-touchdown performance, Watson (124 yards on 16 carries) extolled the starting offensive line of seniors Buck Walsh, Jake Hornibrook, and Stinger; and juniors Will Redden and Brendan Flynn.
“I got great blocking up front,” said Watson. “I mean, you could fit a bus through those holes. I gotta give it to the line. Without them, I wouldn’t have done anything.”
(John Knebels can be reached at Jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter @johnknebels.)
Malvern Senior Quincey Watson credits his line-men after scoring a career-best three touchdowns (video-John Knebels for PSD).