Malvern Prep downs St. Joseph Prep

IT IS THE GOAL of every underclassman to send seniors out with a victory. Under a rainy canopy at Plymouth Whitemarsh last night, Malvern Prep right guard Mike McCarthy helped accomplish that feat.

Afterward, the 16-year-old junior was handling his postgame interview beautifully when he effusively repeated praise for the team's elder statesmen.

"Sorry," McCarthy said after the Friars' 24-20 triumph against St. Joseph's Prep. "I don't have much practice with interviews."

It didn't show. What did was respect.

"This group of seniors we have here are incomparable," McCarthy said. "And I just wanted to send them out with a win."

Senior running back Troy Gallen led the way with 254 yards rushing and 90 more receiving.

However, it was the play of the offensive line that made it possible. McCarthy called senior guard Kevin McKnight a mentor and senior John Monday a great leader. Those skills were on display on a field where the Friars previously tasted defeat.

After both teams exchanged punts, SJP appeared poised to tally first, but a red-zone interception by junior safety James Keating secured Malvern the rock at the Friars' own 3.

The ensuing 97-yard scoring drive culminated in a 47-yard hookup between QB Alex Hornibrook and Gallen, who made the catch, in stride, down the middle.

Malvern's score No. 2 followed pick No. 2 when senior Jordan Majors stepped in front of another pass, leaving the offense in prime position at the SJP 36.

A 30-yard field goal by senior kicker John Dollfus was all they could manage with 10:14 left in the second quarter for a 10-0 Malvern advantage.

"The key to our good start was the captains doing a good job firing us up," McCarthy said. "They reminded us what happened last year."

A 23-17 loss to La Salle (also in rainy conditions) and last season's lost to SJP took place at PW.

Junior James Bell got the Hawks on the board from 5 yards out with a rush to draw within 10-7 with 7:33 in the half.

Prep will continue its season next week in the next round of the PIAA playoffs.

But, Malvern, as it has all season, rebounded quickly. On the Friars' next play from scrimmage, Gallen began his reconnoiter on a right-side sweep before cutting left for a 70-yard score with 7:13 left. Dollfus added the PAT.

"When you have an explosive player like Troy Gallen, all I need to do is give him a split second," McCarthy said. "If we just give him that initial gap with his ability to make that first cut - he's gone!"

The senior standout notched 184 combined rushing and receiving yards (14-for-137 and 47, respectively) and two touchdowns in the first half.

Jack Clements made his second career start for SJP, with starting QB Chris Martin still smarting from a knee injury. Clements, a junior, connected four times for 85 yards in the first half with senior Vince Moffett.

Clements forced his way in from the 4, capping an eight-play, 82-yard drive. The expedition was setup by a 27-yard rush by Bell, a 30-yard middle screen to freshman De'Andre Swift and a Moffett rush for eight.

Five plays and 63 yards later, a Hornibrook toss to you-know-who for 34 yards put six more on the board (24-14). Gallen breezed up the left hash, caught the ball in traffic and hopped on the good foot.

Play No. 1 of the Malvern response came courtesy of a one-handed snag by senior TE/DE John Nassib, whose mitts run 10 1/2 inches from pinkie to thumb.

McCarthy was previously engaged with a defender and missed the snare.

"I've seen some of the amazing catches he's had before," he said. "So I can only imagine."

A 5-yarder by Swift added six for SJP, but when Clements' throwback pass to the tight end sailed, two more were denied. So the score held, 24-20, with 5:36 remaining.

As for McCarthy, who lives in Newtown Square, his blocking skills, and interview skills, are just fine.

When his mother, Sheila, tried to get his attention, "Mom, I'm [doing an interview] . . . " followed.

He recovered like a pro!

"Yeah, we're done and it's a great way to end," he said. "Looking forward to another great senior year with these fantastic coaches. We're returning a lot of [talent]. We have high hopes, but the offseason starts tomorrow."