Malvern Prep Football 1977 Team Page

NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

In an interesting start to the season Coach Jack McGuinn was told in the summer of 1977 that his contract would not be renewed for 1978. This would be his last season.

And speaking of seasons, it was a tale of two season for the 1977 Friars as they went 1-3 out of the gate, giving up 92 points in the process. Once they got the wheels pointed in the right direction, the Friars rolled out 6 straight wins and gave up only 20 points in the process. These guys were sneaky good at 7-3 If you are into numbers, the Friars scored 14 points in each of the 1st four games. The Friars also had 4 shutouts on the season. In league play MP scored 22, 21, 20 and 21 points in case any numerologists are out there.

Like 1976, the 1977 season presented a very challenging non-league schedule. Early season losses were to top 10 ranked schools Carroll and O’Hara and St. Marks a perennial top 3 team in Delaware. Early season Dunkel rankings had O’Hara 6th, Carroll 9th, GA 10th and St. Marks 20th. O’Hara won their Suburban South title and in an interesting twist lost to St. Joe Prep (Gamp’s last year at the Prep) for the Southern Division title.

A Tom Shaw and Pat Van Horn run and two Trooper Sullivan extra points were all the Friars needed to chalk up their 1st win of the season against a strong Georgetown Prep.

The defense pitched their 1st shutout in league play as the Friars whitewashed Haverford School 22-0. Steve Redding scored twice and Pat Horn threw a TD to Rich Jones. GA was a ditto replay of Haverford School as Malvern won 21-0. Two games, two shutouts. Pat Van Horn scored 2 times and Hugh McGettigan got in on the action with a TD catch.

The Friars exploded for 7 TDs in their highest point total of the season against Springfield. Reliable RB Steve Redding cashed in on 3 scores and had 91 rushing yards on the day. QB Van Horn, from Our Lady of Charity CYO, was 7-13 for 91 yards and 2 passing TDs. The Malvern D did their job creating 9 turnovers (according to paper research 4 pics and 5 fumbles) and getting a pick 6 TD from Kevin Kiesel. Total yards MP 305 Springfield 106.

Against Episcopal, Malvern scored three times in the 1st 6 minutes to put the game away. The 2nd and 3rd TDs were set up by interceptions from Tony Liberatore and Don Jones. The Friars D dominated by picking off 5 passes. You know it’s a long day when you complete more passes to the opposition than to your own team. The Malvern offense countered with 242 yards.

Against Penn Charter Malvern got one each- an offensive, a defensive and a special teams TD. Van Horn did the offensive and special teams TD honors with a 1 yard run and a 66 yard punt return. The defensive TD needs a bit more explanation. In a very déjà vu moment from the 1976 game, Gerry Novak picked off a pass and ran it in for a TD. In both the 1976 and 1977, the pick happened in the 2nd quarter and in both games Gerry ran it down the sidelines for a TD ( I feel eerie music should accompany this description). The win extended Malvern’s win streak to 9 against the Little Quakers.

In a very emotional last game QB Van Horn threw TD passes to Jones and Civitella as MP beat West Catholic by scoring 14 points one more time.