Coming into the game with Episcopal Academy, Malvern Prep knew they needed to win the game to stay in contention for the Inner-Ac League championship.
Thanks to a school record 379 yards and five touchdowns from Troy Gallen, the Friars contol their own destiny in the Inner-Ac with a 49-21 win over the Churchman in a game played in Broomall Friday night. Gallen broke the school record of 308 yards set by Chris Downs set in 1997.
A win at home next Saturday against Springside Chestnut Hill Academy and the Friars (6-2 overall, 3-1 Inner Ac) will share the league championship with the winner of the Episcopal-Haverford School winner.
Gallen scored his first touchdown of the night on a 22 yard run following an interception by James Keating that put Malvern up 14-0.
Episcopal (8-2 overall, 3-1 Inner Ac) then reeled off 14 straight points of their own.
Christian Feliziani caught a 15 yard pass from Ryan Whayland (15-24 252 yards two touchdowns) and Whayland scored on a one yard run with 51 seconds before halftime that tied the score at 14-14 and it seemed to turn the momentum.
However, the momentum never really turned.
Matt Brown had a good return of the second half kickoff to the Malvern 39 yard line. Gallen then took the first handoff of the second half and the rout was on as he went 61 yards with just 21 seconds gone in the third quarter to give the Friars a 21-14 lead they would never relinquish.
Gallen also scored on runs of 33, 40 and 70 in the second half as Malvern only ran 18 plays in the second half, five for touchdowns.
On the defensive side of the ball, Malvern held the Churchman to just 28 yards rushing and Malvern’s John Nassib intercepted his sixth pass of the year from his defensive end position.
