PHILADELPHIA >> With a confluence of some of the best talent in the Southeastern Pennsylvania region happening at the Germantown Supersite, Friday, a battle between Imhotep Charter and Malvern Prep came down to who did less wrong.
In the end, Malvern had its moments but Imhotep too consistently won the battle of the line of scrimmage and took advantage of a couple Friar miscues to walk away a 24-14 winner in the non-league blockbuster.
“I think they’re a hard opponent and we didn’t capitalize on opportunities when we had them,” Malvern coach Dave Gueriera said. “Sometimes it’s about who makes the last mistakes gets the win and unfortunately we made more mistakes.”
The game couldn’t have started off any better for Malvern (2-1), who forced a three-and-out and took over at its own 49. On the Friars’ third play from scrimmage, Andrew Pellicciotta took a jet sweep 39 yards for the score.
That proved to be the ignition the Panthers needed, as they retaliated with a 10-play, 80-yard scoring drive to tie it at seven. The possession was prolonged after Malvern was called for running into the kicker on a fourth-and-nine at the Friar 43. Imhotep converted on fourth-and-four and Georgia recruit, Jabree Wallace-Coleman found pay dirt.
“It was a winnable game for us,” Gueriera said. “We can’t make mistakes at crucial moments. We need to play smart and be smart and unfortunately we were not.”
Imhotep (4-0) went into halftime up, 10-7, but that felt like a moral victory for the Friars. The Panthers ran 38 plays for 232 yards in the first half, compared to Malvern’s 55 yards on 15 plays.
Just like in the first quarter, Malvern came out in rhythm, marching right down the field and retaking the lead on an eight-yard touchdown pass from Skyler Smith to Zeke Bates.
But just like before, Imhotep responded with an 11-play, 80-yard touchdown drive capped by a one-yard plunge by Mikal Davis, to regain the lead, 17-14.
“We gave up more than we expected,” Malvern senior Jake Bauer said. “They’re a good football team and they ran the ball hard up the middle.”
Imhotep forced a quick three-and-out, but Davis was picked off by Pellicciotta on the Panthers’ first play and the junior returned it to the Imhotep 12. Malvern wasted a golden opportunity with a personal foul after a three yard run on first down and then an interception on second.
In typical ‘Tep fashion, the Panthers used 14 plays to go 90 yards with Wallace-Coleman scoring from 11 yards out to all but ice the game.
Malvern finished with 220 total yards on 41 plays, and scored only on its opening possessions of both halves. Imhotep rattled off 70 plays, amassing 416 total yards.
“They have a really good defense and they’re a good team,” Gueriera said. “We got a little out of sync on our other drives, but kudos to Imhotep.”
Wallace-Coleman finished with 268 rushing yards on 39 carries, nearly matching Malvern’s play count by himself.
Pellicciotta had 70 rushing yards on five carries, adding 28 receiving yards on two catches, along with his interception. With handfuls of Division 1 recruits on the field at all times, the Malvern junior managed to stand out.
“He’s just an unbelievable athlete for us,” Gueriera said of Pellicciotta. “He can do it all. He’s a heck of a player and he has no offers and he looked like a kid who should have 20 offers.”
The Friars will have two more non-league games before opening up the Inter-Ac schedule at home against Episcopal Academy on October 14.
Imhotep Charter 24, Malvern Prep 14
Malvern Prep 7 0 7 0-14
Imhotep Charter 7 3 7 7-24
Scoring
First
MP: Pellicciotta 39 run (Ploszay kick)
IC: Wallace-Coleman 5 run (Woseley kick)
Second
IC: Woseley 32 FG
Third
MP: Bates 8 pass from S. Smith (Ploszay kick)
IC: Davis 1 run (Woseley kick)
Fourth
IC: Wallace-Coleman 11 run (Woseley kick)
Team Totals
MP IC
First downs 10 19
Yards rushing 83 353
Yards passing 137 63
Total yards 220 416
Passing 12-26-2 8-14-1
Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-0
Punts-avg 5-42.2 2-30
Penalties-yds 5-50 7-75
Individual Statistics
Rushing: MP- Pellicciotta 5-70, TD; Bates 5-18; S. Smith 1-5; C. Smith 3-(-5); Johnson 1-(-5). IC- Wallace-Coleman 39-268, 2 TDs; Coleman 9-43; Davis 8-42, TD
Passing: MP- S. Smith 12-26, 137 yards, TD, 2 INTs. IC- Davis 8-14, 63 yards, INT.
Receiving: MP- Hardy 4-53; Bates 3-36, TD; Pellicciotta 2-28; Johnson 1-14; Files 1-5. IC- Buie 1-17; Coleman 2-15; Brown 1-14; Hennigan 1-8; Denmark 2-5; Nealy 1-4.
Interceptions: MP- Pellicciotta. IC- Pollard, Norris.
