Episcopal stays undefeated by downing Malvern Prep
MALVERN >> The Malvern Prep defense has been sensational for the entire season, allowing just over five points per game. Saturday afternoon at Quigley Field, the host Friars had their work cut out for them as the high flying and undefeated Episcopal Academy was the opponent. Malvern held EA to just 14 points, but could not generate much offense of their own and fell to the Churchmen, 14-11, in Inter-Academic League action.
The loss puts Malvern (2-2 inter-Ac, 7-2 overall) out of contention for the league title, while Episcopal (4-0,9-0) will play a winner-take-all game with the Haverford School next Saturday.
Holding a 14-3 lead at halftime, the Churchmen went on a 14-play drive from their own 20-yard-line down to the Malvern one, where they were stopped on a fourth-and-goal. Even though it did not produce a score, the drive took 9:21 off the clock and set the tone for the second half.
“We wanted the wind in the third period and our offensive line did a great job today,” Episcopal head coach Todd fairly said. “We went for it on the goal line and we figured we had flipped the field on them and they would get the ball at the one-yard-line. We constantly talk about flipping the field and getting good field position.”
The Churchmen took a 14-3 lead in the first half on a two-yard touchdown run from quarterback Narome Rayborn and a 33-yard pass play from Rayborn to TJ Cadden. Malvern answered with a 25-yard field goal from Jack Ploszay. It was evident the Friars were going to have trouble moving the football.
Malvern accumulated just five first downs for the game and 24 yards through the air. The entire Friars offense seems to consist of rushes from Yaahdir Nash, who gained 109 of their 112 yards on the ground.
“We just could not generate much today,” Malvern head coach Dave Gueriera said. “But this team has fought all season and they have a lot of resolve and they fought again today.”
With the teams trading punts, the Friars had life as they got the ball at their own 48 with 5:55 to play in the game. The Friars drove down the field and Nash broke three tackles to score from six-yards out. With 3:59 to play the Friars, after a successful two-point conversion, closed the gap to 14-11.
The Churchmen took the ensuing kickoff and garnered two first downs on the running of TJ Caddeen, who rushed for 47 yards on 10 carries. Mike Cadden had a big game, rushing for 73 yards on 14 carries, and he broke off a 17-yard run to move the ball to the 50 with just over two minutes to play.
The defense held and forced a punt that went into the end zone and the Friars had life with 1:45 to play. On the second play after the kickoff, Friars quarterback Jaxon Melconian threw a high pass that was picked off by Dylan Jaszacz and the comeback bid was over.
“I was reading the quarterback’s eyes and he threw it up pretty high and I just went up and grabbed it.” Jaszacz said.
Episcopal ruling back and receiver TJ Cadden talked about the long second half drive and the Churchmen offensive line.
” Those guys give 10 percent every game,” Cadden said. “The just grind and grind and grind and they set the tone for the second half for us.”
Episcopal Academy 14, Malvern Prep 11
Episcopal Academy 7 7 0 0 — 14
Malvern Prep 3 0 0 8 — 11
Scoring
First Quarter
Episcopal Academy — Rayborn 2 run (Bush kick)
Malvern Prep — Ploszay 25 FG
Second Quarter
Episcopal Academy — TJ Cadden 33 pass from Rayborn (Bush kick)
Fourth Quarter
Malvern Prep — Nash 6 run (Mears pass)
team statistics
EA MP
First downs 20 5
Rushes-yards 45-193 21-112
Passing 14-22-1 2-12-1
Passing yards 105 24
Total yards 298 136
Punts 4-37.5 5-41.0
Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-0
Penalties-yards 5-40 4-17
Individual statistics
Rushing — Episcopal Acadaemy: M. Cadden 14-73; Rayborn 15-61; TJ Cadden 10-47; Kane 6-5. Malvern Prep: Nash 16-109 TD; Melconian 4-2; Smith 1-1.
Passing — Episcopal Academy: Rayborn 14-22-1 105 yards TD. Malvern Prep: Melconian 2-12-1 24 yards.
Receiving — Episcopal academy: TJ Cadden 8-60 TD; Lamb 3-36; M. Cadden 2-14; Appanael 1-5. Malvern Prep: Lake 1-21; Holmes 1-3.
Interceptions — Episcopal Academy: Jaszcz. Malvern Prep: Mears.
Sacks — Episcopal Academy: Mohn.
