Haverford School Football - PSD Photo
Malvern Prep Football: PSD Photo
INTER-ACADEMIC LEAGUE GAME OF THE WEEK
Who: Malvern Prep vs. Haverford School
When: 3:00 PM Friday, October 26
Where: Haverford School
Records: Malvern Prep 8-0, 2-0; Haverford School 3-3, 1-1
Most Recent Performance: Malvern Prep defeated Episcopal Academy, 24-7; Haverford School lost to Penn Charter, 41-14.
Importance: The sideline conversation among non-personnel during Malvern Prep games invoke fantasy, as in – imagine the possibilities if the Friars played in the PIAA. How far could this team go? The players and coaches agree with that sentiment, so the Friars are not about to relax and rely on its laurels. Haverford School, meanwhile, is searching for an identity. After a terrific performance in its opener, the Fords followed it with a major clunker. A solid performance against one of the area’s most powerful squads would pay significant dividends moving forward.
All-Time Record: Malvern leads, 45-25
Malvern Prep Notes: The Friars have won 13 in a row overall and 11 consecutive Inter-Ac games going back to last year . . . Almost impossible to stop from scoring when executing . . . On the ground, senior Quincy Watson has played four games and gained 439 yards and scored three touchdowns . . . Senior QB Drew Gunther(1,715 yards passing, 17 touchdowns) has a wealth of options, with five different players amassing more than 200 receiving yards, and three of them (senior Ryan Iacone, senior TyGee Leach, and sophomore Lonnie White) accounting for a composite 57 catches, 1,110 yards, and seven scores . . . Don’t expect to throw against this secondary and get away with it. Malvern has intercepted a jaw-dropping 15 passes (including four apiece by Clemson University-bound senior linebacker/wide receiver Keith Maguire and junior James Hayes), with an obscene six of them returned for touchdowns.
Haverford School Notes: Fords have swung back and forth, with each of their three wins followed by losses . . . Senior Ben Gerber and junior Dante Perri share quarterback duties. Their top target is senior Nate Whitaker(13 catches for 235 yards and two of his three TDs) . . . Secondary is strong with nine interceptions, led by senior Logan Keller’s three, and two each by Whitaker and sophomore Chris Sims.
FRIAR CHAT: “We need to continue to work hard in practice and not let our foot off the gas,” said senior guard/defensive end Harry Stinger. “We have a lot of momentum going our way and we want to carry it throughout the rest of the season. Haverford is always a tough and physical team, so we need to take control of the game early on.”
"Something that we need to do is continue to keep our focus not only for this game, but for the rest of the season,” said senior defensive end Joe Carpenter.
“It’s important to make sure that we keep our momentum going and to not assume that anything’s going to be handed to us.”
Malvern Prep Football Highlights - By Zamani Feelings
“Haverford is one of our big rivals and they’re definitely going to give us all they got,” said defensive lineman John Turley. “We’re a band of brothers. We need to play for each other and execute the little things. We need to come out firing from the first snap to the last and just play our brand of football.”
FORD CHAT: “Every week, regardless of the opponent, we focus on staying within our game and playing sound, fundamental football,” said senior quarterback Ben Gerber. “This week will be no different. We feel very well prepared because we’re used to playing tough Inter-Ac teams and play a tough non-league schedule.”
“We have to execute everything perfectly,” said senior middle linebacker Sean Clark. “Obviously when you are going up against a team that is 8-0, it will be a challenge. It’ll be a challenge for us and we need to have the best week of practice. This is a very good team and we will need everything to go our way. We can’t have the penalties and turnovers like we did last week.”
Haverford School Football Highlights - By Zamani Feelings
“We have to play together as a team and get the ball to our playmakers,” said senior offensive tackle and defensive end Asim Richards. “Up front has to be solid, and if we do that, we should be okay.”
Prediction: Malvern views Haverford School as an adversary and will compete hard all the way through, including substitutions trying to take full advantage of playing time. Haverford School will make some stops on defense, but it would be surprising if the Fords find the end zone more than once. Malvern remains undefeated after a thorough 42-7 victory.
(John Knebels can be reached at Jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter @johnknebels.)