FROM THE MALVERN ARCHIVES

A LOOK BACK.

THE TOUCHDOWN CLUB (1st in a series of 3)

 

Over the years Malvern has had the reputation of not only consistently fielding excellent teams but more specifically excellent defensive squads.

I researched the records (Ted Silary) from 1950 (first year in the Inter Ac) through 2019 and have come up with “The Touchdown Club”. These are teams that gave up a touchdown or less for the entire season. For the sake of a definition, the scoring average had to be between 7.0 to 7.9. My apologies to those teams before 1950 as the information is incomplete. This is the list, starting from the lowest average. team records, number of shutouts and the head coach:

1. 1972- 9-0 (CHA forfeited; average based on 8 games)- 3.6 points a game- 5 shutouts- Shark McGuinn
2. 1985- 8-1-1.....4.6 points a game- 4 shutouts- Gamp Pellegrini
3. 1979- 8-1........5.2 points a game- 3 shutouts- Gamp Pellegrini
4. 1987- 9-1........5.7 points a game- 5 shutouts- Gamp Pellegrini
5. 1980 10-0.......5.8 points a game- 5 shutouts- Gamp Pellegrini
6. 1954- 4-3-1....6.6 points a game-3 shutouts- Stan Javie ( formerly Jaworski)
7. 2001- 9-0.......6.7 points a game- 3 shutouts- Gamp Pellegrini
8. 1965- 7-2.......7.1 points a game- 4 shutouts- Jim Auch, Jr.
9. 1976- 7-2-1....7.3 points a game- 5 shutouts- Shark McGuinn
10. 1960- 7-1.......7.5 points a game-1 shutout- Mike Mayock
11. 1974- 10-0.....7.9 points a game- 2 shutouts- Shark McGuinn

Just missing The Touchdown Club were the teams of

1951, 1955- Stab Javie

1961, 1962-Mike Mayock,

1970- Shark McGuinn

OTHER NOTES OF INTEREST

These eleven teams were 84-11-3. The 1954 team lost their 3 games by the scores of 12-6, 14-7 and 14-7. Their tie game was 7-7. The 1960, 1961 and 1962 teams were coached by Mike Mayock. In the 6 degrees of separation category, Mike’s grandson played on Gamp’s undefeated IA championship team in 2008. Both Mike Mayock and Jim Auch, Jr. had great success at other IA schools. Mike coached at The Haverford School and Jim Auch, Jr. at Haverford School and Episcopal. Coach Mayock won back to back titles in 1970 and 1971 at HS. Both teams being undefeated. I had the “pleasure” of playing against both of those Haverford School teams and can attest to the fact that they were well coached, very good football teams. Because it was so long ago their success sometimes gets forgotten. They would certainly be in my discussion of any ranking of all- time great IA teams. Coach Auch I believe (if someone knows different let me know) is the only coach to win titles at 3 Inter-Ac schools. He was the coach at Haverford School before Mike Mayock. Coach Auch tied for a title in 1968 at Haverford. At EA he strung together a 3-peat in 1981, 1982 and 1983. The 1972 MP team only gave up 4 TDs all year. Lastly the 1972, 1979 and the 1985 teams only had one opponent all year reach double figures in a game.

Defense wins championships and produces great teams. Malvern Prep is a great example.

More to come……………

06.23.20

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