Both teams entered with unblemished league records; that turned the regular-season finale into the Inter-Ac championship game.
On offense, the Friars (9-1 overall, 5-0 Inter-Ac) used two fast, agile runners to keep Chestnut Hill (7-3, 4-1) off balance. Senior Shawn Wilson and junior Eric Purnell split carries, as they gained a combined 151 yards on the ground.
"I follow him anywhere; he's coached me so much," Purnell said about Wilson. "I've learned so much from him. I'm so thankful for him."
"You have to worry about both of us," Wilson said. "That's what most teams hate to do. It's just a beautiful thing."
Wilson opened the scoring with a 20-yard sprint around right end with less than two minutes remaining in the first quarter.
The Friars continued to apply pressure, as they forced an interception on Chestnut Hill's first play of the ensuing drive.
On the next play, Will Ammerman escaped one-on-one coverage to become wide open in the end zone as he hauled in a 25-yard lob pass from Friars quarterback Will Ford.
Chestnut Hill's Cedric Madden, one of the area's top rushers, was limited by the Friars defense to 37 rushing yards.
Defensive end Connor Mahoney said the Friars prepared heavily for the Blue Devils runner and felt confident they could halt him.
"He's a great back," Mahoney said. "We game-planned for it, came out and did the game plan and got the win."
Madden said his performance wasn't based on the Friars' game plan, but instead resulted from the pressure of the game.
"I don't think it was really their defense. I think it was us letting the game get to us," an emotional Madden said. "The whole championship and everything."
It was the first start for Ford, as the junior replaced Tommy Rumer, who had suffered a knee injury in last Saturday's win over Haverford School.
In the second half, Ford put the Friars up by 20-0 with a 3-yard touchdown as he sneaked up the middle through a hole.
Chestnut Hill 0000-0
Malvern Prep 14063-23
MP: Shawn Wilson 20 run (Dennis Gabert kick)
MP: Will Ammerman 25 pass from Will Ford (Gabert kick)
MP: Ford 3 run (kick failed)
MP: FG Gabert 31
Contact staff writer Matt Breen at mbreen@phillynews.com or @matt_breen on Twitter.
