Malvern Prep Football 2023 Team Page

DAILY LOCAL NEWS ALL AREA

1st TEAM

Peter Jones OL

Logan Demchyk OL

Andrew Pelliciotta ATH

Phil Tabasso DL

Jake Bauer LB

Zade Johnson DB

Jack Ploszay PUNTER

Andrew Pellicciotta DB

2ND TEAM

Liam Horan OL

Ennis Udo DL

Owen Mears LB

Peri DiBartolomeo DB

HONORABLE MENTION

Zeke Bates

Alex Gueriera

Dylan Kraiza

MAIN LINE GRID IRON GREAT

*Because this newspaper covers 19 high schools they limit the number of athletes on 1st and 2nd team. Every team they cover gets representation

1ST TEAM

Peter Jones, Logan Demchyk OL, Andrew Pelliciotta ATH/DB

Ennis Udo DE/TE, Jake Bauer LB

2nd TEAM

Liam Horan, Dylan Kraiza OL, Zeke Bates RB

Owen Mears, Chris Lake LB

PFN Coaches Select All-State 5A

1st Team

Logan Demchyk OG, Jack Ploszay Punter

2nd Team

Peter Jones O TKL

All Eastern Pennsylvania 5A

1st Team

Peter Jones OL, Jack Ploszay PUNTER

2nd Team

Logan Demchyk OL, Jake Bauer LB

Honorable Mention

Andrew Pelliciotta

ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF NOTE

The 2023 Friars returned the IA trophy to its rightful place. Since 1959 this was Malvern’s 36th title. In the process the Friars extended their win streaks against GA, PC and CHA. This was their 2nd title in 3 years.

I know they would like to get the game back but at 9-1 this was only the 9th time since 1950 that a Friar squad finished with only one loss. Their only loss was to 5A PIAA state champ Imhotep 24-14 (15-0). To put that score in perspective, Imhotep won their semifinal PIAA game 42-14 and their state championship games 38-13. They averaged 44 points a game over their season. The MP-Imhotep contest was a 3 point difference late into the 4th quarter.

According to MaxPreps the Friars finished the season slotted at #6 in the state. They were the 3rd highest ranked team in all of Southeast Pennsylvania. Only St Joe Prep #1 and Imhotep #2 were ahead of them. If you know local high school football you know those two programs are consistently excellent. They accomplished their ranking by having one of the toughest schedules in the state. Malvern handed two quality programs, Delbarton (10-2) and the Hun School 8-1, their only regular season losses.

Much of the Friars success can be attributed to a Joe Carr led defense. If you have ever watched Malvern’s defense you know Coach Carr always has the players well prepared. The defense was front and center during the Haverford “revenge” win. In the previous week Haverford School had gouged GA with 52 runs and 371 yards. Haverford’s best RB had a day of his own with 40 carries for 246 yards. Against MP The Ford’s run game could only manage 100 yards on 33 carries. Add 4 turnovers and the Friars won going away 24-6.

Speaking of defense, All League LB Owen Mears had 3 picks on the year. None was more important than his pick 6 against CHA. He took it 86 yards to the house to secure the championship 17-7. The defense as a team had 15 thefts in 10 games.

All Inter-Ac Ennis Udo led the team in sacks (8.5) and tackle for losses (12). Not to be outdone, All Inter-Ac Jake Bauer led the team in total tackles (90).

Andrew Pelliociotta was Malvern’s 26th player to be named MVP. Andrew also joined the select “Chunk Club” (Tops in Running Back, MP history) with a whopping 10.6 average per run in the 2023 season. This places him #1, ahead of Troy Gallen’s very impressive 9.8 yards per carry.

17 players received either 1st or 2nd All Inter-Ac recognition. That’s a pretty healthy number.

Special shout to the career of kicker/punter Jack Ploszay who hit the Tops in Kickers ( MP history ) multiple times. He gets his own highlight section.

1. His 43 points on the season ties him for 10th all time. This goes along with his 46 points in the 2022 season which placed him that year at 6th.
2. His 7 FGs in 2023 ties him for 2nd all time.
3. His 12 career FGs ties him for 1st with two pretty good kickers- Brendan Carney (Syracuse) and Joe Buckley (Navy).
4. 1. Last but not least Jack’s career totals hit 90 points- 54 XPTS, 12 FGS. This total places him 3rd all-time behind Carney and Buckley. Another great kicker leaving his mark. Jack will be taking his kicking talents to Wake Forest.