REVIEW OF THE 2001 UNDEFEATED FOOTBALL FRIARS

POST SEASON RECOGNITION

ALL INTER-AC OFFENSE

Jeff Carroll, Stefan Niemczyk- Offensive Line

Kevin Barr- Receiver

Mike Treston- Running Back

Brendan Carney- Kicker

ALL INTER-AC DEFENSE

TJ Cascio, Mike Meehan, Shawn Quinn- Defensive Line

Gerald Price, Kevin Lilly, Chris Emper- Linebacker

DJ Driscoll, Rob McGarrigle- Defensive Back

**MIKE TRESTON- LEAGUE MVP**

ALL CITY

Brendan Carney, DJ Driscoll- 1st Team

Kevin Barr, Mike Meehan, Shawn Quinn, TJ Cascio, Chris Emper- 2nd team

All DECADE INTER-AC (2000- 2009)

Brendan Carney, DJ Driscoll

All CITY All DECADE (2000-2009)

Brendan Carney

COACH GAMP PELLEGRINI NOVEMBER 10, 2001 AT BISHOP SHANAHAN

“I knew two years ago that this team would be special. Any time you can go 10-0, it is really a team effort. Everybody did the job. This is as close to a full team as you can get. When I say there were no standouts on this team, the truth is, there were a whole bunch of them. We had no All-State guy who could carry the ball for 300 yards a game. These guys all carried each other."

A NOTE FROM GAMP TO HIS COACHES AND TEAM

What a great season it was. I don’t know of any other Malvern Team that could lose three starters not even half way into the season and still be undefeated.

I thank my staff for their work and their loyalty that have always given me. It is not a secret that I am blessed with the best coaching staff in high school football. I thank the players for playing hard for me and allowing me to share in the glory. It was a privilege to coach you.

This team will long be remembered at Malvern Prep and around the area as one of the best ever. As players and coaches, we will always remember this year together with its many accomplishments. I am proud to have been your coach

Best Wishes Always

Coach Gamp.

A LETTER FROM FATHER FLYNN TO THE 2001 FOOTBALL TEAM

To the 2001 Malvern Prep Friars Football Team

What an honor it was for me to be associated with you! I stand in awe of who you are and what you have accomplished. My heart has become full over the years of great memories of Malvern football but this year you took greatness to a new level. From Jeff Carroll’s huddle calls to Brendan Carney’s 40-yard middle of the uprights field goals; from Matt Skellan throwing touchdown passes with half a shoulder to Ed Liva’s interception at Fairfield; from DJ dancing off the field after an interception to the weekly Mike Treston sprint up the sidelines, from Shawn Quinn slugging it out in the trenches to mainstays Tim Murray and Mike Walsh cheering injured from the sidelines, from Steve Fischer filling in some big shoes on the line to Matt Volz stepping up big time at corner and Andrew Kossuth captaining the Episcopal game, from a solid thumping of St. Joe’s to a thorough thrashing of Downingtown, from the domination of Chest-Mont teams to domination of the Inter-Ac, in all these things, you defined what it means to be a champion.

What matters most to me is that you played always with class and with heart and with focus. That started with Coach Pellegrini and went all the way down to sophomore John Kelly holding his knees in agony after a tough practice. Other teams feared you and the names Eric Moore, Gerald Price, Kevin Barr, Chris Emper and a host of others filled opposing coaches’ notebooks as they tried vainly to devise defenses or offenses to counter the threat you posed, but each week, no matter what schemes they devised, you simply and calmly took care of business. It didn’t matter who we played. You made them play our game. Players like Mike Gatmaitan, Will Hobson, Paul Chambers, Pat Raquet and Bill Johnson did the same on special teams, and together you were giant killers.

I hope that you learned this year that you are winners, both collectively and individually. I hope you proved to yourself that no matter what the situation, you have resources both within and without that can help you come out on top. I hope that you remember those resources always begin with God, just as we always began by invoking God’s help at Mass. He is not only your primary coach in life; He is also your biggest fan.

Please know that your team will forever be considered one of the greatest chapters in the history of Malvern football. That’s no exaggeration. Your excellence has guaranteed it. Congratulations on your undefeated season. Thanks for the memories.

Sincerely

Fr. Flynn

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

The Friars rolled through the season in dominating fashion on both sides of the ball.. I thought I would start with the 2001 team in tribute to current football staff great and friend, Coach Jeff Carroll. And the obvious, this team was REALLY GOOD in all three phases of the game. I know there might be some discussion on the Fairfield game that Ted Silary (www.tedsilary.com) has listed as an exhibition. Whether it was or was not it does not change the greatness of this team. If you remember from previous articles, the 2001 squad was ONLY ONE of TWO TEAMS to make the Touchdown Club, 30 for 30 and Beat the Spread lists. When you look back on how many good teams MP has had since 1950, that is an accomplishment that stands very tall and puts this team in the category of best of the best.

DEFENSIVE NOTES OF INTEREST

There was an inkling that the defense was going to be good with a season opening 21-10 win over a very strong St. Joe Prep. The Prep went 10-3 in 2001 and averaged 33 points a game on their way to a Catholic League Championship. The MP defense held star running back and Catholic League Co-MVP Kyle Ambrogi to 26 yards on the ground. For the year Ambrogi rushed for 1672 yards and 17 TDs and finished as one of St Joe Prep’s all-time great running backs. Ambrogi was a stud and the MP defense never let him get into any rhythm.

The Friars picked off 3 in that game. For the year DJ Driscoll led the ball hawking defensive backfield with a school record 7 picks. As a team Malvern picked off 15 with Kevin Barr contributing a pick six to the total. MP then ran the table against traditionally strong Chest-Mont opponents Downingtown, WC East and Henderson. This was back in the day when these Chest Mont teams played MP almost every year. MP throttled Downingtown 35-7 in a year that Downingtown qualified for the PIAA playoffs.

In Inter-Ac play the word dominant might actually be an understatement. They came close to shutting out the league. Let me repeat. They almost shut out the league! Points given up against Haverford and GA were in the 4th quarter when the Friars were comfortably ahead by scores of 35-0 and 44-0. On 85 rushing plays in 4 Inter-Ac games the MP defense gave up 91 net yards on 85 rushes. I know I say it often in articles but I will say it again. Let that stat sink in!. I am not a math major but yards per carry for the IA opponents is a bit slim, not much real estate at all. Over 156 total offensive plays, combined rushing and passing, these same four opponents only gained 3.4 yards per try.

It is no wonder that the Friars place 8 players on the All Inter-Ac squad and 4 players on the All-City defensive side of the ball. Remember that All-City honors is picked from the top players of the Catholic, Public and Inter-Ac leagues.

OFFENSIVE NOTES OF INTEREST

League MVP Mike Treston hit his stride in league play by pounding out 625 yds and 7 TDs. QBs Matt Skellan and Dave Moore teamed up to complete 49 passes for 828 yards and 8 TDs. Their main targets were the trio of Driscoll, Barr and Emper. These three guys caught 42 of the 49 passes for 732 yards. Interesting that DJ and Chris had post season recognition on defense but were team leaders on offense for the Friars. Great two-way players.

TJ Cascio ably supported Mike Treston in the run game. TJ scored 10 rushing touchdowns on 74 rushes. That is a TD every 7 touches if you are counting. Seven of his TDs travelled a total of 27 yards. I guess it was safe to say when the Friars got close Coach Gamp and Coach Sells gave the rock to TJ. Smart coaches!!

For the season the Friars averaged 6.2 yards per rush and 16.5 per completion while racking up over 2700 yards of offense. That’s some good “chunking”. And speaking of chunks, my big fatties came through. Shout out to the big skill of Center Jeff Carroll (currently on the football staff and a teacher at MP). Guards Mike Meehan and Shawn Quinn and Tackles Stefan Niemczyk, Michael Walsh and Steve Fischer. And honorary big skill fatty Chris Emper at Tight End. These fatties were legit good. Move the pile, move the chains kind of offensive linemen. My kind of big skill.

“SPECIALS” NOTES OF INTEREST

Brendan Carney puts the special in Special Teams.

This 1st Team All- Everything kicker/punter was VERY special. He added 38 extra points and 2 field goals. His 40 yard punting average and kick offs for touchbacks consistently pinned the opposition deep in their own territory. What a weapon he was, considering the defense MP had that year. Brendan went on to have a great career at Syracuse University.

And if I didn’t mention DJ Driscoll enough. Just to review. Has the school record of 7 picks in a season, was a top receiver on offense and to close the loop, DJ added a 65 yard punt return against Penn Charter in the Friars 24-0 win. Not bad for a lacrosse player!

ROLL CALL

And as I will do with all the highlighted teams, one last roll call of the seniors in their very special season.

DJ Driscoll, Tim Murray, Matt Volz, Paul Chambers, Brendan Carney, Bill Johnson, Matt Skellan, Mike Treston, Ed Liva, Gerald Price, Chris Emper, Will Hopson, Jeff Carroll, Shawn Quinn, Steve Fischer, Mike Gatmaitan, Mike Walsh, Kevin Barr, Andrew Kossuth, Eric Moore, Pat Raquet.

Brothers Forever

POST SCRIPT

** Many thanks to Coach Carroll who help me with some great background info.

Next team up will be 1995. Probably 2008 then 1980 (More digging needed. Order subject to change). Followed by the Shark teams 1972, 1974 and the 1975 team at 9-0-1. I am looking for any help and contributions. I need full rosters for the 1974, 1975, 1980 and 1995 teams. If you have one somewhere in your attic or laying around in a scrapbook please send to me at Rcarey5171@aol.com

More to come……………

03.16.21

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