Gridiron greats: Presenting the 2019 All-Main Line football teams

Leading the way on the Main Line high school football scene this fall was Episcopal Academy (9-1, 4-1), which captured its first outright Inter-Ac title since 2012 and its third since 1983. It was EA’s 26th Inter-Ac football championship, and this year’s EA seniors leave with a career record of 29-11, tied with the Class of 2015 with the second most wins in school history. EA had six players receive first team All-Inter-Ac honors, including Inter-Ac MVP Maurcus McDaniel.
Haverford High School, behind the talents of Delaware County Offsnive Player of the Year Trey Blair and others, posted an 11-3 record and made school history by winning two District 1 6A playoff games.
Other solid Main Line football teams this fall included Haverford School (6-4, second place finish in the Inter-Ac League), Archbishop Carroll (6-6) and Malvern Prep (4-6 overall, 3-2 Inter-Ac) and Radnor (5-6, qualified for District 1 5A tournament).
The All-Main Line high school football teams are selected by the coaches. Because Main Line Media News covers 19 high schools, the Main Line Media News sports staff limits the number of sports available to first team, second team and honorable mention – but follows the priority of the coaches’ selections.
What follows are the 2019 All-Main Line high school football teams:
FIRST TEAM
Richie Kimmel, Archbishop Carroll – Senior linebacker and second-year captain made 122 tackles (six for loss), was a first team All-Catholic League selection and first team All-Delco pick. Considered the top linemacker in Delaware County, he averaged 12 tackles a game in his varsity career. 2019 A Mini Maxwell Award recipient, he was invited to participate in the Blue-Grey All-American Bowl at Tampa Bay’s Raymond James Stadium on Jan. 4
Nick Lamey, Archbishop Carroll – Junior defensive back tied for the Catholic League lead with five interceptions, made 22 tackles and defensed eight passes. A first team All-Catholic League and second team All-Delco pick at defensive back, the versatile junior also was a second team All-Catholic League punter, executing numerous successful fake punts as well as kicking many solid punts.
Jason Lafontano, Archbishop Carroll – Senior guard, one of the top two-way linemen in the Catholic League, was noted for his bruising, physical style, and led the Patriots in pancake blocks. Was a first team All-Catholic League selection and a first team All-Delco pick.
Liam Kirk, Conestoga – Senior running back rushed for 1,099 yards in 154 carries, averaging more than seven yards per carry and receiving first team All-Central League honors. Also made 15 receptions for 266 yards, and scored 17 total touchdowns this fall. Finished his Conestoga career with more than 2,000 yards rushing, and was the Pioneers’ offensive MVP two years in a row.
Mitchell Benjamin, Conestoga – Senior offensive lineman and captain, a first team All-Central League selection, often cleared the way for Pioneer star running back Liam Kirk this fall. The 6-foot-3, 265-pound senior will be playing football for Washington and Lee next fall.
Maurcus McDaniel, Episcopal Academy – Senior quarterback/defensive back, the Inter-Ac League’s Most Valuable Player, passed for 1,311 yards and 15 touchdowns, completed 67 percent of his passes and threw only two interceptions. The University of Pennsylvania commit also was a dangerous runner at quarterback, picking up 1,329 yards rushing and scoring 21 touchdowns. Received first team All-Delco recognition.
Matt Bush, Episcopal Academy – Senior running back/linebacker, voted the top player in the Inter-Ac at both positions, and a first team All-Delco pick at linebacker, made 77 bone-crunching tackles, rushed for nearly 500 yards (many of them in tough yardage situations), and was a productive pass receiver for the Inter-Ac champions.
Paul McLaughlin, Episcopal Academy – The 6-foot-1, 275-pound senior was voted the top offensive lineman in the Inter-Ac, receiving first team All-Delco honors as well. With McLaughlin anchoring the Churchmen’s offensinve line at guard/tackle, Episcopal Academy averaged 275 yards rushing per game, the second-best team rushing performance in Delaware County.
Malcolm Folk, Episcopal Academy – Junior defesnive back, a first team All-Inter-Ac selection and All-Delco pick, excelled at a number of positions, including running back, wide receiver and tight end. A two-time All-Inter-Ac defensive back, Folk caught 28 passes for 428 yards, rsuhed for 385 yards, and scored nine touchdowns by land and by air.
Trey Blair, Haverford High – Senior quarterback/defensive back, the Delaware County Daily Times Player of the Year, rushed for 2,165 yards, scored 28 touchdowns, and passed for 1,255 yards and 13 touchdowns. The Temple University-bound senior, the first team All-Central League quarterback, also was a strong defensive back, making two interceptions despite opposing teams rarely throwing his way.
Will Higson, Haverford High – Junior linebacker, a first team All-Central League selection and first team All-Delco pick, was a hard-hitting performer for a powerful Ford squad this fall, making 120 tackles (more than 20 for losses) as well as grabbing two interceptions.
Sean Reynolds, Haverford High – Senior linebacker was a powerful defensive force for the Fords, making 110 tackles (more than 20 for losses) and breaking up numerous passes. Received second team All-Delco honors as well as All-Central League recognition for his fine linebacking play.
Kevin Gillespie, Haverford High – Senior two-way lineman was a first team All-Central League center, and received all-league recognition as a defensive lineman as well. Recorded 48 pancake blocks, and defensively, came up with 11 1/2 sackes and 20 1/2 tackles for losses.
Mike Barr, Haverford School – Senior offensive lineman, a first team All-Inter-Ac selection, was a physical force inside for the Fords, leading the way for ball carriers and dominating opponents at the point of attack. The third-year starter has committed to play for Lafayette College next year.
Chris Clark, Haverford School – Senior kicker/punter, a first team All-Inter-Ac selection and a first team All-Delco pick, was 34-for-36 on extra point attempts, and made nine field goals, including a pair of 48-yarders and a 50-yard field goal in a win over Malvern Prep. He is one of only a handful of kickers to hit from 50 yards or beyod, and the first in Delaware County since Haverford School’s Jack Soslow (52 yards).
Daiyaan Hawkins, Haverford School – Senior running back/defensive back used his exceptional speed as a playmaker on offense, running for more than 400 yards and five touchdowns and catching 11 passes for 141 yards. Defensively, he often drew the responsibility of covering the opposing team’s top threat, and made two interceptions, one for a touchdown. The Temple University commit was a first team All-Inter-Ac selection, and a second team All-Delco defensive back.
Lonnie White, Malvern Prep – Junior quarterback, a first team All-Inter-Ac selection, was a dual threat at the signal-calling spot, rushing for 1,065 yards in 127 carries (averaging more than eight yards per carry) and scoring 16 touchdowns (rushing and receiving), while throwing for 762 yards and nine touchdowns. A fine all-around athlete who also caught 10 passes for 108 yards.
Ronan Swope, Malvern Prep – Junior punter was considered one of the most valuable contributors to the Friars’ success this fall by Malvern Prep head coach Dave Gueriera. The Friar junior averaged an outstanding 40.7 yards per punt.
Caimin Hayes, Malvern Prep – Senior cornerback and captain, a first team All-Inter-Ac selection, was a top-notch, extremely efficient defender for the Friars this fall, making 27 tackles, making three interceptions and recording 14 passes defended. Gave up no touchdowns and allowed less than 40 percent completion rate when targeted.
Taylor Margolis, Radnor – Senior linebacker/running back was an all-around performer and the Raiders’ MVP. A first team All-Central League (and second team All-Delco) linebacker, he made 133 tackles (nine for losses), three sacks and forcing four fumbles. Rushed for 412 yards in 89 carries (4.68 yards per carry), receiving All-Central League recognition and was a solid pass receiver.
Jahmir Dixon, Radnor – Junior wide receiver, a first team All-Central League selection and first team All-Delco pick, made 43 catches for 925 yards and 13 touchdowns. Broke the school’s single-game pass receiving record with 210 yards in a 28-7 win against Conestoga.
SECOND TEAM
Archbishop Carroll – Malachi Hansen, junior wide receiver/defensive back; Tyler Alston, senior linebacker; Jamil Thomas, senior defensive lineman; Russell Minor-Shaw, senior quarterback.
Conestoga – Scott Smith, senior tight end/defensive end; Chris Radina, senior middle linebacker.
Episcopal Academy – James Hoogstraten, junior offensive lineman; Billy Adams, junior running back/defensive back; Dom Minicozzi, senior offensive lineman; Max Strid, junior defensive lineman.
Harriton – Max Copley, senior tight end/linebacker; Daral Cresswell, senior defensive back.
Haverford High – Justin Burgess, senior defensive back; Chasen Wint, senior running back; Harry Carpenter, senior defensive lineman.
Haverford School – Ben Murphy, senior defesnive lineman; Pat Toal, senior linebacker; Kwaku Adubofour, senior offensive lineman.
Lower Merion – D’Shawn Jemison, junior defensive end.
Malvern Prep – JT Roberts, senior defensive lineman; Cole Deery, junior defensive lineman.
Radnor – Sam DiLella, senior quarterback; Cameron Williams, senior safety; Patrick Boujoukos, senior offensive/defensive lineman.
HONORABLE MENTION
Conestoga – Chris McGovern, senior quarterback; Pat Nichols, junior linebacker/punter; Mike Prestipino, senior wide receiver.
Episcopal Academy – Jake Phelan, defensive lineman; Aedan Chavis, defensive back; Dylan Dibeneditto, linebacker.
Haverford High – Aiden O’Neil, senior defensive lineman; Brian Klee, senior linebacker.
Haverford School – Matt McKenna, senior wide receiver; Jake Spencer, senior wide receiver; Jack Cloran, senior wide receiver; Dante Perri, senior quarterback.
Lower Merion – Jay Zheng, sophomore running back; Jack Lledo, sophomore free safety; Xavier Archawski, freshman offensive lineman.
Malvern Prep – Christian Curatolo, junior offensive tackle; Cade Szostek, senior defensive back; Isaac White, senior linebacker.
Radnor – Brendan Surbeck, senior wide receiver; Scott Belveal, junior running back/linebacker; Damian Falcone, sophomore linebacker.