[tps_title]Malvern Prep Friars [/tps_title]
NATE HECKENBERGER
Impressive Friars striving for unblemished year
MALVERN >> In a trip to a Malvern Prep practice, it doesn’t take long to be impressed by the Friars on the field.
Big linemen in one corner. Built, shifty running backs in another. Just seeing the squad in pads is enough to get your attention. That surely was one of the first impressions for new coach Dave Gueriera, who took over this spring. 
“It’s a great roster,” said Gueriera, who came over after three years as head coach of West Chester East. “We only have 12 seniors and over 30 juniors. The sample size is a little bigger at Malvern and more kids here have the goal of playing college football.”
The left side of Malvern’s line looks ready to do just that, with 6-foot-3, 295-pound senior, Joe Basiura, at guard and 6-foot-4, 270-pound junior, Jake Hornibrook, at tackle.
Both have Division 1 offers and will be hard to counter as a duo.
“It’s something I’ve never experienced in my 20 years of coaching,” Gueriera said. “That kind of talent next to each other, and having a left-handed running back, that left side will be one of the strongest in the state. It’s very comforting and assuring knowing you have guys to manage that side for us. They’re very relentless in everything they do.”
The happiest guy to have them on the line is that left-handed running back, O’Shaan Allison, who missed all but three games last year with a fractured ankle.
“The offensive line plays a huge role in my ability to put points on the board and accomplish what’s written down on the chalkboard,” Allison said. “Without them I can’t do anything.”
Malvern has aspirations of going undefeated and winning an outright Inter-Ac League title, which they shared with Germantown Academy last fall.
Allison, an Ohio University recruit, will play a huge part chasing that goal. He burst onto the scene as a sophomore with 1,621 rush yards and 21 touchdowns and figures to fit in nicely to Gueriera’s spread, zone run scheme.
“He has really good burst when he finds the hole and his vision is fantastic,” Gueriera said of Allison. “With the inside zone, he picks up seams and he’s a natural cut-back runner. He sets up blocks well and he’s a complete back.”
He’ll have help with running back/slot junior Quincy Watson and junior quarterback Drew Gunther, who took over midway through last season and threw eight touchdowns the final five games.
With no playoffs for the Inter-Ac schools, the league title is top priority for the Friars.
“It’s our number one goal,” Gueriera said. “I really hope, in years to come, that we’re a part of some sort of playoff system, whether it’s within in the Inter-Ac League or if private schools break away from public schools.”
Just winning the league might not be good enough for Allison, however.
“Our goal is to win every single game this year and have no close games,” Allison said. “We want to shut teams out.”
Way of the Bison
Defensive lineman Ryan Betz and linebacker Cole McCabe are committed to play for Bucknell next season and are cogs in a tough Friar defense. Joining the pair is junior middle linebacker Keith Maguire and junior safety TyGee Leach on a defense that is being coordinated by former Springfield (Delco) coordinator Joe DiTullio.
He’s back
This is Gueriera’s second stint on the Malvern Prep staff after coaching quarterbacks from 2009-10 under Kevin Pellegrini. From there he spent time as offensive coordinator at Episcopal Academy before getting his first head coaching role at West Chester East, where he led the Vikings to their first playoff appearance and victory in a decade.
By Nate Heckenberger; nateheckenberger@21st-centurymedia.com
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