Football Friday Notebook: Episcopal has earned bragging rights as class of county
Episcopal Academy is proving to be the best team in Delaware County.
The Churchmen check all the boxes.
A dual-threat quarterback and one of the area’s elite players? His name is Maurcus McDaniel, who has the highest QB rating (167.42) and second-most rushing yards (910) in Delco.
A big, nasty offensive line unit? Seniors Dom Minicozzi and Paul McLaughlin would agree.
Top-notch playmakers at the skill positions? Hard-nosed running back Matt Bush and all-purpose standout Malcolm Folk fit the bill.
A defensive front seven that is bigger, taller and faster than anyone else? Defensive ends Jake Phelan and Max Strid and linebacker Dylan DiBeneditto are absolute forces.
Episcopal is three wins away from completing its second perfect season since 2012. That’s easier said than done, of course, with reigning Inter-Ac League champion Malvern Prep (3-4), Germantown Academy (6-2) and archrival Haverford School (3-4) left on the docket.
Pound for pound, however, it’s difficult to see EA losing. The Churchmen have won in blowout fashion, but most impressive is their ability to overcome adversity and come from behind, which was the case two weeks in a row against Penn Charter and Springside Chestnut Hill Academy.
“Each and every week is a fight,” Minicozzi said. “We’re 0-0. We still have something to prove, we still have games to win, and there’s three more big ones. Every team in the Inter-Ac is good.”
McDaniel is the man who makes the offense go. After having success as a starter in his sophomore and junior campaigns, helping the Churchmen win 13 games during that period, McDaniel has taken the next step in his development. The offense revolves around him. While it’s easy to see him as a running QB, it’s foolish to sleep on his ability to throw the ball. McDaniel has completed 62.5 percent of his passing attempts (60-for-96) for 830 yards, 10 touchdowns and only one interception.
“He’s amazing. He’s such a competitor and is so humble and gracious in everything he does,” EA coach Todd Fairlie said. “He’s a pleasure to coach, he’s so smart. He makes great decisions and he’s so tough. What more can you ask for?”
Episcopal is fifth in the county in points per game (29.6) and second in total offense with 368 yards per game. Defensively, the Churchmen have allowed 15 points per contest, fifth fewest among Delco teams.
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DISTRICT 1 POWER RANKINGS >> It’s the final weekend of the regular season in District 1, which means a slew of Delco teams are playing for seeding in the district playoffs.
In Class 6A, Garnet Valley is the class of the county. The Jags, who travel to No. 11 Ridley Friday, occupy the sixth seed and could possibly leapfrog No. 5 Coatesville, which ended GV’s season the last two years.
Despite Haverford’s bludgeoning of Ridley two weeks ago, the Fords are ranked 13th, or two spots behind No. 11 Ridley. A Fords win over Conestoga (3-6), coupled with a Ridley loss, should change that.
Despite enjoying their most successful season in more than a decade, Chester is in 20th place and is unlikely to qualify for the 16-team tournament.
In Class 5A, Academy Park (7-2) and Strath Haven (7-2) sit in fourth and fifth place, respectively. AP’s stunning defeat at Chester last week ruined any shot of earning the top seed for the Knights. Cheltenham is currently No. 1.
No. 6 Penn Wood lost valuable nonleague points after canceling last week’s game at Friendship Academy of Washington, D.C, due to travel issues.
Marple Newtown (6-3) and Radnor (5-4) are in eighth and 10th place, respectively. They meet at Radnor’s Prevost Field Friday night.
No. 11 Chichester (3-5) is one of six teams with losing records who would qualify for the 16-team tournament, if the playoffs started this weekend. Springfield (3-6) is clinging to the 16th seed.
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Delaware County Christian School wrapped up its first regular season in the 8-man Keystone League with a 22-12 loss to Perkiomen School last week. The Knights (3-3) will play Mercersburg Academy for the third time in Saturday’s league semifinal round. Kickoff is 3 p.m. at Mercersburg.
The Knights split their prior two meetings against the Blue Storm (4-2). In a 58-20 DC win Oct. 12, quarterback Ben Iott threw for 201 yards and three touchdowns while running back Jalen Mitchell ran for 159 yards and three scores.
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There is a make-up date for last Friday’s Del Val League clash between Chichester and Interboro.
Interboro’s senior night was postponed after the school district learned of a potential threat of a weapon being brought to the South Avenue Athletic Complex.
Chichester is scheduled to travel to Glenolden Sat., Nov. 9 for a 10:30 kickoff. However, if Chichester advances to the district tournament and goes beyond the first round, the Eagles and Bucs will not make up the game.
Winless Interboro (0-8) will not qualify for the district playoffs, but without the Chichester game, the Bucs could go more than a month between their final regular season contest Saturday at Chester and their Thanksgiving Day rivalry game at Ridley on Nov. 28.
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MOVING THE CHAINS >> Chester’s 18-14 upset of Academy Park was the Clippers’ first win over the Knights since 2008. … Haverford quarterback Trey Blair’s 278-yard rushing performance last week is the third-best single-game output by a Fords player. The record of 335 yards was set by Ray Baur in 1990. … Haverford’s defense has allowed 106.9 yards per game with 15 takeaways during the team’s seven-game winning streak. … In four starts, Upper Darby quarterback Corey Robinson has thrown for 582 yards and seven TDs. Among passers with at least 60 passing attempts, Robinson ranks second in Delco with a 149.98 rating.
MATT SMITH’S DELCO FOOTBALL SUPER 7
1. Episcopal Academy (7-0)
2. Garnet Valley (8-1)
3. Haverford High (7-2)
4. Bonner-Prendergast (7-1)
5. Haverford School (4-3)
6. Chester (6-3)
7. Academy Park (7-2)
