Malvern Friars 37, Peddie School 6

September 30, 2006

Quigley Field, Malvern Prep

10/06/2006

Opponents fear Malvern Prep’s Ostick

STEVEN LIENERT , Special to the Local News

MALVERN -- The groundskeepers at Salesianum High School’s Baynard Stadium better have a cleanup crew handy.

Undefeated Malvern Prep is trekking down to Delaware to take on the reigning Division I state champion tonight, and that means only one thing: Paul Ostick is going to barf.

"He throws up before every game, most of the time on the field," said Jim Downey, Ostick’s teammate. "Nerves. All nerves. It doesn’t matter -- home or away, day or night. If we play a meaningful football game, he blows chunks."

Ostick also has been blowing away the opposition. The 6-foot-3, 270-pound defensive end-offensive lineman has led the Friars to a 3-0 mark, and the game against Salesianum is a measuring stick for just how good this Malvern Prep team can be.

"It’s our first real challenge of the season," Ostick said. "They have some very good players. It’s going to be a challenge. We had a great week of practice with lots of intensity. I think we are very prepared."

Ostick is especially prepared for this game because he’ll have the opportunity to inflict punishment on a player recruited by Penn State -- Andrew Szczerba, a 6-6, 250-pound tight end-defensive end. Ostick, who carries a 3.5 cumulative GPA, is getting looks from Princeton, Georgetown and Villanova. He enjoys testing his mettle against players considered to possess a deeper hue of blue-chip.

"It’s a great opportunity for Paul to show what he can do against a guy that is already going to Penn State," Malvern Prep head coach Gamp Pellegrini said. "You don’t get to Penn State without being a good football player. The last two guys we played that committed to Penn State killed us."

The Friars will look to Ostick to make sure that doesn’t happen again -- not only on the field but off of it as well.

"He’s a great leader," Pellegrini said. "He’s the captain that does most of the talking. That’s because I think he’s a take-charge guy."

He’ll have to be, as Salesianum is seeking revenge after last year’s 48-21 loss to Malvern Prep, which went on to capture the Inter-Academic League banner.

"I just think people don’t really know how good of a player he is," the Friars’ Rob Bates said of Ostick. "I feel sorry for teams that have to go against him."

Which perhaps is how football players should be measured. Instead, 40-yard dash times and number of reps with the barbell have become the standards by which athletes are judged.

"I think people fall in love with size and speed," Downey said. "(Ostick) has the potential to dominate games. I don’t think he realizes that."

There’s speculation that because Ostick plays both ways, he tires near the end of games, which might make him look a step off his normal pace.

"I’d like him to be two inches taller and 15 pounds heavier," Pellegrini said. "That’s still a possibility because he’s still a young boy. A guy like that plays both ways, he’s tired. In college, you only play one way. When he’s going one way, he’ll be that much better because he’s fresh."

Still, Pellegrini can’t understand why someone like Ostick, who represents the team and the school in such a positive manner, isn’t getting recruited by major programs.

"I don’t know why not," Pellegrini said. "If they don’t, there’s something wrong with them. Every Division I school should be here. He’s a good student. I just don’t understand those guys. He’s the type of kid you want your eighth-grader to adhere to."

Ostick, for his part, remains unfazed. He’s just a big kid playing football with his friends, quietly confident that the future will take care of itself.

"When you are in high school, you’re not going to remember who sat next to you in class," he said. "I’ll remember who I blocked for. I really care about my teammates. It’s not about one individual player, it’s about the team. I have fun just going out there hitting people with my buddies."

And making opponents lose their lunches.

Malvern Prep Stats:

http://www.tedsilary.com/MalvernFB06.htm

HUCK’S CITY TOP 10 Ed Palmer, Philadelphia Daily News

WEEK 10/3/06
1. SJ Prep (3-2)
2. La Salle (5-0)
3. Malvern (3-0)
4. Roman (4-1)
5. Chestnut Hill (4-0)
6. Father Judge (3-2)
7. Ryan (2-3)
8. Wood (4-1)
9. North Catholic (3-2)
10. George Washington (4-1)

Under Consideration:
Episcopal (3-1), Frankford (2-1), O’Hara (1-4), West Catholic (2-3), Bartram (4-0),
Penn Charter (3-1), Neumann-Goretti (3-2), Roxborough (5-0), & Bok (4-0).
Top 10 Blitz:
Perched at the top of the poll is St. Joe’s Prep for the third straight week. The Hawks raced past Ryan 31-12 this past weekend and will tackle a struggling Bonner team this coming week. La Salle continues to be impressive with a 35-14 thumping of Judge. They’ll battle a desperate and reeling O’Hara team on Sunday. Malvern remains unbeaten, but their perfect season will be tested this weekend when they play Salesianum, one of Delaware’s best. Roman rebounded nicely with 29-6 pasting of Bonner. Placement within the CL Red standings will be on the line this week with a huge game against Ryan. Behind the tremendous rushing of Rashad Campbell, Chestnut Hill continues to soar up the rankings. They demolished St. Pius X (Roseto) this past week, which entered the game ranked 8th in the state at the single-A level. Father Judge came back to earth with a humbling defeat to La Salle. They’ll look to rebound versus North Catholic, their neighborhood rival and a team that has a lot of confidence at the moment. Ryan fell to the mighty Hawks, but a win this week over Roman would ertainly ease that pain. Wood made quick work of an undermanned Kennedy-Kenrick squad. They’ll face an improving Neumann-Goretti team on Friday night. North Catholic enters the top ten for the first time this year after a surprising 13-12 victory over O’Hara. Speedster Daryl Robinson only needs a little space and this past week he found some on two occasions. George Washington blanked Pub rival Northeast 19-0. The Eagles have been playing nice defense in the early going. There are some newcomers in the under considerations this week; Pub upstarts Bok and Roxborough make a first-time appearance. Frankford remains in this group and something tells me they just might be lying in the weeds for their game against GW. The Inter-Ac looks to be as balanced as it has been in a while, as Penn Charter and Episcopal find a little room in this bunch. O’Hara has been slipping, but something tells me that they still have time to turn the season around. Neumann-Goretti is coming off a huge road win at Carroll, possibly their biggest in some time. This team appears to be dangerous. West Catholic sped past Dougherty to the tune of 51-14. They have an interesting match-up with Conwell-Egan on Friday night.

Next Game: Malvern Friars at Salesianum

Friday night, October 6, 2006 7:30 PM

Baynard Stadium

Wlimington, DE

DIRECTIONS: Exit off I-95

http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/parks/wilmsp/baynardmap.htm

Salesianum Webpage:

http://www.salesianum.org/

http://www.salesianum.org/sports/fall.cgi

Event Information (Game)

FALL BOYS VARSITY FOOTBALL

Event Status:		Approved
Home/Away:		Home
Opponent(s):		Malvern Prep (B V)
Start Date:		Friday, October 06, 2006
Start Time:		7:30:00 PM
End Time:		10:00:00 PM
Facility		BAYNARD STADIUM
Transportation Arrangements:
Early Dismissal Time:
Departure Time:
Departure Point:
Return Pickup Time:
Win-Loss / Score:
Map to home school:		Salesianum School

Top10s DELAWARE RANKINGS Sunday, October 1, 2006

Through Sunday

FOOTBALL

Rank Team (Div) (Record) Prev

1. Salesianum (I) (4-0) 1
2. Caravel (II) (4-0) 2
3. Sussex Central (I) (4-0) 3
4. Middletown (I) (3-1) 4
5. Indian River (II) (4-0) 5
6. Archmere (II) (4-0) 6
7. Glasgow (I) (4-0) 7
8. Delmar (II) (4-0) 9
9. Hodgson (II) (4-0) –
10. St. Mark’s (I) (3-1) –

10/01/2006

Malvern continues to churn out points

MIKE MILLER , Staff Writer

MALVERN - The Malvern Prep football team continued its high-scoring trend on Saturday.

Coming into the contest against the Peddie School, the Friars won their first two games by a combined 77-7 margin.

Another scoring fest was on tap at Quigley Field as Malvern posted a 37-6 rout of the school from New Jersey.

The Friars (3-0) posted three rushing touchdowns in the first quarter to stun the visiting Falcons, who struggled from the start.

"Our offensive line is good," said long-time Malvern head coach Gamp Pellegrini. "Peddie just doesn’t have the people to sit with us."

Malvern took the opening kickoff and drove 80 yards on seven plays, capped off by a two-yard touchdown run from sophomore running back James Connelly.

Senior fullback Alexander Forte added two more scoring runs -- after a pair of 3-and-outs from the Falcons -- to give the Friars an early 21-0 lead.

Peddie did not complete a pass until the middle of the second quarter after senior quarterback Tommy Burns was sacked twice in a row.

With four minutes, 16 seconds left in the second quarter, Burns was sacked in the end zone by senior defensive lineman James Downey to give the Friars a safety -- and a commanding 30-0 lead.

"I’ve always been a believer of if you can get up by 50 in the first half, go ahead and do it," Pellegrini said.

The Friars didn’t get to 50 but they come close. They led, 37-0, at the half and cruised home from there.

"We’re scoring from all angles right now," said Downey. "When you do that obviously the numbers are going to start to rack up. (Quarterback Ryan) Nassib and (running back Chris) Layne have been playing incredible these past couple of weeks."

Layne led the Malvern ground attack with 90 yards on 12 carries as the Friars outgained their visitors, 385-74.

Downey is a leader on defense and is confident in the way his team is playing right now.

"We’re really deep, a couple of us are playing both ways and a lot of times we can afford to take a couple of plays off," the lineman said. "We’re deep at d-line, we’re deep at secondary, and at linebacker. There’s been a lot of guys that come right in and we don’t miss a beat.When you do that, you’re going to end up putting up shutouts and holding teams to only six points."

Wayne & Surburban Times

10/05/2006

Non-league Football: Peddies pummeled, Sallies up next for unbeaten Friars

By: John DiCandilo

MALVERN - There won't be anything other than ire and fire with the Friars this week. It's Salesianum week. 'Nuff said.

Verbal shots over the bow will be flying at Wilmington's Baynard Stadium Friday night when Malvern Prep and the Sallies meet. This is a Catholic-school border war. The Sallies, defending Delaware state champs and currently atop the state polls, want the Friars' hides after losing to Malvern last year. Salesianum is - again - big and talented, including tight end Andrew Szczerba, all 6-6, 240 pounds of him, who has verbally committed to Penn State.

While the Sallies have a huge chip on their shoulder, the Friars know this could very well be their sternest test of the year. The winner, or whomever withstands the last punch in the mouth, will have smack-talking rights for the next year.

But before Malvern could focus its eyeballs squarely on the Sallies, there was a little matter of playing the Peddie School, of Hightstown, N.J., last Saturday, during the Friars' first real home game of the season. Putting this as delicately as possible, the Falcons didn't offer, ahem, quite the challenge Salesianum will. This border war didn't have the same intensity. Malvern won easily, 37-6.

"We had a good week of practice this week," said Malvern coach Gamp Pellegrini. "I thought we'd be ready offensively. But the week before that was a disaster. We had a week off, so there wasn't anything to keep the players into it. Some of the kids went away to a retreat, so we didn't practice that first Monday. We only practiced Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. By Wednesday, we were starting to come around again."

The Friars piled up all 37 points in the first half and had 391 yards on the day. The Falcons barely mustered 51 total yards. The winning points were on the board with 8:49 to play in the first quarter, when Jim Connelly swept right end from the 11 to notch the sixer.

Fullback Alex Forte posted the next two touchdowns: a 7-yard run on a dive play over left tackle with 7:16 to go in the opening quarter, and a 4-yard run on another dive play over left tackle with 11:48 showing in the half.

"Earlier in the week, we had a hard time focusing," said Forte. "But the coaches kept on us to focus on Peddie. After a bye week, it was good for us to get back into a routine. Now we can prepare for Salesianum. We thought Peddie was good, and that they had the potential to score. But we started off moving the ball well, keeping momentum, focusing high and feeling good."

Joe Hoban ran a seam route down the middle of the field, and he hauled in Ryan Nassib's perfectly thrown ball for a 42-yard touchdown pass and a 28-0 lead with 10:31 to play in the second quarter.

Just six minutes later, Jim Downey put Peddie quarterback Tommy Burns on his hip pads for a safety.

Nassib, thankfully, guaranteed the mercy rule would go into effect as soon as the second half started when he sneaked in from the 1-yard line with 9 seconds to play in the half.
Malvern became very annoyed at losing its shutout after Chris Douthett blocked a Joe Buckley punt and recovered it in the end zone with just 2:05 remaining in the game.

"We thought they (Peddie) played pretty well against Brooklyn Poly and Penn Charter," said Pellegrini, "but Penn Charter had opportunities and didn't get it done. I wanted to get a 'W' and no injuries out of this. We got the 'W,' but we had one injury, to Phil Congialdi.

"Next Friday is going to be a war. It will tell us what we really have."

What they probably will have is a high-intensity week of practice.

Articles about last season’s Salesianum game.

Malvern Prep romps past Salesianum

Wilmington News Journal

From staff reports

10/11/2005

MALVERN, Pa. -- Senior quarterback Ian Mitchell ran for three touchdowns and passed for two more, leading unbeaten Malvern Prep to a 48-21 victory over No. 4-ranked Salesianum on Monday at Quigley Field.

After falling behind by a touchdown in the second quarter, Malvern scored on its next six possessions. Halfback Jimmie Cotton had a 65-yard TD run on the second play of the third quarter and caught two scoring passes from Mitchell.

Salesianum (3-2) took a 14-7 lead on an 83-yard return of a Cotton fumble by Bob Sabol for a touchdown and a 9-yard TD run by Nick Dominelli. In the final four minutes of the first half, Mitchell threw an 11-yard TD pass to Cotton and ran three yards for a score.

Malvern (5-0) is ranked eighth in Southeastern Pennsylvania by the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News.

"This [Malvern] is a good football team, but the outcome of the game is very disappointing," said Salesianum coach Bill DiNardo. "I think we are a good football team as well, but that isn't what we showed today."

Sabol caught a 45-yard TD pass from quarterback Ben Farley to pull Sallies within 28-21 midway through the third quarter. Malvern put the game away as Cotton scored on a 40-yard screen pass and Mitchell ran 20 yards for a touchdown two plays after a Malvern interception.

"We knew Salesianum was a ranked team in Delaware. We told our players this would be a good measuring stick for us in a lot of ways," said Malvern coach Gamp Pellegrini, who quarterbacked the 1959 University of Delaware football team to an 8-1 record. "I knew Sallies had a lot of pride, is well coached, well drilled and physically tough."

Salesianum plays Friday at Chichester (5-0).

10/11/2005

Friars run away from Salesianum

KERITH GABRIEL , Staff Writer West Chester Daily Local

MALVERN -- Fumble the ball once, shame on you. Fumble three times, shame on the team that still allows you to have a three-touchdown afternoon behind triple-digit yardage on the ground.

Assuredly, that was the mindset of Malvern Prep’s Jimmie Cotton, a senior who coughed up the football three times in the first half of Monday’s nonleague matchup with Salesianum.

Nonetheless, the resilient tailback redeemed himself, registering three of the Friars’ six touchdowns after solving the Sallies’ opportunistic defense as Malvern rolled to a 48-21 rout of the third-ranked team in Delaware.

Cotton, who finished with 137 yards on 11 carries, laughed the day off, saying, "After the third fumble, I just got up and kept playing. If I would’ve stayed down, it would’ve been more than three fumbles -- and obviously the game wouldn’t have come out this way."

The Friars came out ready to play, putting the game’s first score on the board and deflating the ego of a team that arrived from the Diamond State with a mission to run the host’s defense ragged behind star back Will Miller.

But Malvern (5-0), ranked third in the area, and its defense seemed unfazed by the 180-pounder, allowing Miller just 38 yards on nine carries and a lone touchdown -- paltry numbers for a player known as the go-to-guy for the Sallies (3-2).

On offense, Friars quarterback Ian Mitchell proved that his team can count on him to pick up the slack when it’s needed most. Alongside a 6-of-8 passing effort, Mitchell doubled as a rushing threat, registering two touchdowns on quarterback keepers. His second score -- a scramble on a huge fourth-and-nine play -- gave Malvern a 21-14 lead headed into the half.

The senior quarterback, however, shifted all the credit to his line, which he feels is the engine that runs the team.

"The offensive line just took over the game from the start," he said. "They have been a very big part of our season, and probably the reason we are undefeated."

The Friars open up Inter-Ac League play Friday against a powerful Haverford School team. But with its current success, Malvern, despite Cotton’s early miscues, remains one of the area’s teams to beat.

Cotton scored on runs of 71, 41 and 14 yards.

"Jimmy is going to fumble once in a while because of the way he runs," said Friars coach Gamp Pellegrini. "But on the other side of that, I’ve got to give it to him: He’s a great running back."