Defending Inter-Ac champ Malvern Prep football squad features a new lineup this fall

Malvern >> Malvern Prep, which swept through its Inter-Ac football schedule last fall with a perfect 5-0 record, will be starting its 2022 season with a whole new lineup.
The Friars lost 15 starters to graduation last spring, including standouts such as running back Isaiah Wright, offensive lineman Cole Deery, linebacker Ryan Davis, defensive back D’Angelo Stocker and kicker Jake Reid.
But the Friars are a perennial powerhouse – since 1959, Malvern has won the Inter-Ac title (or a share of it) 35 times. Friar head coach Dave Gueriera is confident that the 2022 Malvern squad has the right stuff to win yet another title.

“Overall, I think we’re a solid team, full of players who play well for each other,” said Gueriera, whose Friars posted an 8-2 overall record last fall. “We’re strong on the offensive line, at linebacker, and I think our special teams will be strong again.”
The offensive line is anchored by junior tackle Peter Jones (6-5, 290), a Notre Dame commit. Joining Jones on the offensive line will be junior center Logan Demchyk (6-3, 295), senior guard Kevin Miller (6-4, 270) and junior tackle Liam Horan (6-3, 255). Senior Owen Dietrich (6-1, 235) and junior Dylan Kraiza (6-1, 270) will battle for the other guard spot.
Jones reflected on the winning legacy of Malvern football that seems to carry forward every year.

“We had good leaders on the offensive line last year,” said Jones. “I think we were able to learn from them, and are able teach the new guys that we have this season.
“And winning a total of 35 Inter-Ac football championships – 25 of ours and 10 shared – on the field, you just feel the legacy that Malvern football brings.”
Senior Bryce Pippin (6-3, 200) will man the Friars’ quarterback spot, and Malvern’s leading running back will be senior Yaahdir Nash (5-10, 175).
“Bryce is a strong runner, with a good arm, and Yaahdir is a home run hitter – he has great speed,” said Gueriera.

Nash said, “I think we learned to play as a team last year, and our seniors did a good job of leading us. They provided a lot of inspiration for this year’s seniors. We also learned that we have to play aggressively [after] the couple of losses we had last year.”
The receiving corps will be headed up by senior Ryan Falkenstein (6-1, 195) and senior Roman Vernisi (5-10, 175).
“Last year, we had a bunch of players who taught us how to play as a team, and to have a next-play mindset and pick each other up,” said Falkenstein.
Defensively, the Friars will be led by their linebackers, which include seniors Hayden Pegg (6-4, 190), Bobby Mears (6-4, 225), Colin McHugh (6-0, 210) and Sean Maguire (6-0, 205).
The defensive line includes senior Luke Testa (6-0, 220) and junior Ennis Udo (6-1, 205) at defensive ends and Jones and junior Phil Tabasso (6-2, 280) at defensive tackles.

The Friars’ secondary is headed by sophomore safety Andrew Pelliciotta (5-10, 175), senior cornerback Cam Paquette (5-10, 180) and sophomore cornerback Zade Smith-Johnson (5-10, 175).
The kicking will be handled by junior Jack Polszay (6-2, 180), and the Friars have a standout long-snapper in senior Jake Buzin (6-3, 210).
The Friars will open their 2022 season against LaSalle Sept. 2 at Ocean City (N.J.) High School. Last year, on the Ocean City football gridiron, LaSalle edged Malvern 10-7, so the Friars will be looking for revenge this time around.

malvern prep SCHEDULE
Fri. Sept. 2 – vs. LaSalle at Ocean City (N.J.), 6 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 9 – at Archbishop Wood, 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 16 – vs. Imhotep Charter, 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 23 – vs. Roman Catholic, 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 30 – vs. Rock Creek Christian (Md.), 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 7 – at Delaware Military Academy (Del.), 7 p.m.
Sat. Oct. 15 – at Penn Charter, 2 p.m.
Sat. Oct. 22 – vs. Haverford School, 1 p.m.
Sat. Oct. 29 – at Germantown Academy, 1:30 p.m.
Sat. Nov. 5 – vs. Episcopal Academy, 1 p.m.
Fri. Nov. 11 – vs. Springside Chestnut Hill, 6 p.m.