Friars Stay Unbeaten in Inter-Ac with 42-6 Win Over Penn Charter

MALVERN—Malvern Prep scored early and often Saturday, as the Friars celebrated homecoming and senior recognition day with a 42-6 rout of Inter-Ac league rival Penn Charter.

On a day where his senior class was honored and his father, Malvern Prep coaching legend Gamp Pellegrini was presented with the first game ball ever used in the new Pellegrini sports complex. The younger Pellegrini was quick to keep the game's results in perspective when integrating it into the landscape of this season’s league championship race.

“We have had two good games to start our league schedule,” said Pellegrini, “but they are exactly that—two games. We have some very good teams coming up on the schedule starting next week with Episcopal. We have to be ready every week for the team to throw their best at us. I think the fact that we are such a mature team will help us, but we have to execute.”

One Friar star that had no problem executing was senior tailback Shawn Wilson, who scored four times on touchdowns runs of 3, 4, 37 and 75 yards, while he racked up more than 150 yards on the ground.

“I am so blessed to run behind a line like ours,” said Wilson. “We work all week and the coaches do a great job calling the right plays, but the line has to make the holes to run through, and they have been unbelievable all season so far.”

The Friars carried a 14-0 edge into intermission, when this year’s Hall of Fame inductions and alumni awards presentation were held. When play resumed, they scored on three consecutive possessions, boosting the lead to 35-6. The lone Quakers' score was a two-yard burst by Daryl Worley, following a 77-yard scamper by quarterback Kevin Murphy.

Lost in their 2-0 Inter-Ac start, in which the Friars have outscored the opposition 94-6, is the outstanding effort by the defensive unit for Malvern Prep, which held the opposition to under 200 yards of total offense for the fourth straight game.

Led by seniors Joe Nilan, Joe Smith and Connor Mahoney, Malvern Prep has stifled offenses all year. Saturday, the Friars forced four turnovers, including an early interception by Blake Gunther that gave the Friars the ball at the Quakers 30-yard line.

Shannan Green's return of 35 yards set up a one-play scoring drive by the Friars, as Eric Purnell rambled into the end zone from 22 yards out. Brad Elkin also had interceptions, further frustrating the Penn Charter offense.

“Our coaches are the ones that deserve the credit,” said Nilan, who recorded at least nine tackles to compliment his 40 yards running the ball. “They have us playing as well as I have seen since the 2008 team. We have a great group of seniors, but we also have a lot of underclassmen making an impact, which is just a great thing to be a part of.”

In front of a packed house that included alumni and the year’s Malvern Prep Hall of Fame class, the Friars put on a clinic in fundamental football, being whistled for three penalties, while committing just one turnover and forcing four to prevent any shift in momentum.

“This is awesome, to have a game like this in front of all of the alumni,” added Nilan. “We wanted to put on a good show for the people here today. And to totally control the game is what we need to focus on for the upcoming weeks against teams like Haverford and Chesnut Hill.”

Malvern Prep (6-1 overall, 2-0 league) got a 34-yard run on the first play of a late fourth-quarter drive by Troy Gallen. The sophomore broke four tackles en route to pay dirt, to close out the scoring and give the Friars their sixth straight win.

“Having my dad here to be honored like that ... was great,” added Pellegrini. “It’s actually kind of surreal, and I will probably think about it a lot later down the road, but right now I am focusing on what we are trying to accomplish this season. And I think he probably feels the same way.”

Penn Charter            0            0            6            0         — 6

Malvern Prep            14          0             7           21       — 42

MP-     Wilson 3 yd run (Gabert kick)

MP-     Wilson  4 yd run (Gabert kick)

MP-     Purnell 22 yd run (Gabert kick)

MP-     Wilson 37 yd run (Gabert kick)

PC-      Worley 2 yd run (kick failed)

MP-     Wilson 75 yd run (Gabert kick)

MP-     Gallen 34 yd run (Gabert kick)