Malvern

In some families, Troy Gallen would have been unceremoniously ostracized. In others, he might have been forced to take out the trash every hour and/or cut the lawn three times a week. His crime? Turning his back on the school where his father and brother experienced football success. The 5-11, 175-pound Gallen, a junior, is now a dual-threat running back at Malvern Prep. But until 3 years ago, he always dreamed of attending Cardinal O'Hara and, who knows, he might be there now if not for one of Malvern's players.

Connor Bohs ran for 103 yards and a touchdown and Troy Gallen added 68 rushing yards and a TD as Malvern Prep rode its ground game Saturday to a 24-7 victory over Germantown Academy in the Inter-Ac League football opener for both teams. Quarterback Billy "Moose" Ford also scored on the ground for the host Friars (4-2 overall). Running back Eric Purnell added 75 yards on 14 carries. Rob Gorman scored the only touchdown for Germantown Academy (3-2) on a 6-yard run in the third quarter.

Despite having a spotless record and Southeastern Pennsylvania's No. 1 ranking, Mike Eife and his La Salle teammates entered Saturday's nonleague matchup against Malvern Prep feeling, he said, a bit underappreciated. "There was so much talk about [Catholic League rival] St. Joe's Prep, and a couple of the newspapers had picked us to lose this game," said Eife, a senior fullback and linebacker. "So we kind of had a chip on our shoulder. " In what coach Drew Gordon and several of his players referred to as a "statement" game, the visiting Explorers put up 31 points before intermission and buried the No. 9-ranked Friars, 38-6, at the Pellegrini Athletic Complex.

After a two-year break, perennial Southeastern Pennsylvania powers La Salle and Malvern Prep meet again. The No. 1-ranked Explorers (3-0) and No. 9 Malvern (2-1) will square off at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Friars' Pellegrini Athletic Complex. La Salle is prepping for a run at a fifth straight Catholic League title. Malvern continues on the road toward a fifth Inter-Ac League crown in the last six years. In the head-to-head series, the Explorers won in 2007 (21-14) and 2009 (28-7)

Malvern Prep overcame an early deficit Wednesday en route to a 2-1 home victory over Hill School in a nonleague boys' soccer game. Hill School's John Rader found the net just 17 minutes into the first half to give the Blues an early lead. Junior John Heller tied the score with a strike in the 28th minute. The score remained tied throughout much of the second half. Clay Dudek lifted the Friars to the win. The senior scored with only three minutes left. Both goaltenders played well, with Connor McNeill making four saves for Malvern and Shaun Quinn collecting three for Hill School.

Malvern Prep overcame an early deficit en route to a 2-1 home victory over Hill School on Wednesday in a nonleague boys' soccer game. Hill School's John Rader found the net just 17 minutes into the first half to give the Blues an early lead. Junior John Heller tied the score with a strike in the 28th minute. The game remained tied throughout much of the second half. Clay Dudek lifted the Friars to the win. The senior scored with only three minutes left. Both goaltenders played well, with Connor McNeill making four saves for Malvern and Shaun Quinn collecting three for Hill School.

Trailing at halftime was a new feeling for the Holy Ghost Prep soccer team. In the first four games of the season, the Firebirds had always scored first, even against tough opponents such as La Salle and Father Judge. But in Wednesday afternoon's nonleague game against Malvern Prep, the Firebirds trailed after 40 minutes, and they weren't too pleased about it. So they made some halftime adjustments. Those adjustments and a rousing halftime talk from coach Ken Lawson proved to be the difference in Holy Ghost's 3-1 victory.

Trailing at halftime was a new feeling for the Holy Ghost Prep soccer team. In the first four games of the season, the Firebirds had always scored first, even against tough opponents such as La Salle and Father Judge. But in Wednesday afternoon's nonleague game against Malvern Prep, the Firebirds trailed after 40 minutes, and they weren't too pleased about it. So they made some halftime adjustments. Those adjustments and a rousing halftime talk from coach Ken Lawson proved to be the difference in Holy Ghost's 3-1 victory.

WILDWOOD, N.J. - Roman Catholic's J.J. Logan arrived with less-than-fond memories of playing at Maxwell Field. Last year, about 10 plays into an eventual 19-7 triumph over West Catholic, the hulking offensive lineman suffered a broken right foot. "My season was done," he said. "After that, it was three months of doing nothing. " Logan's return trip to the Jersey Shore, while no stroll on the boardwalk, went much better Saturday. With two touchdowns in the final nine minutes, the Cahillites, No. 6 in The Inquirer's preseason Southeastern Pennsylvania rankings, escaped Malvern Prep, 28-27, in the opener for both squads.

It's not around the corner, but it should be well worth the drive. And, either before or after, there's the opportunity to hit the beach, stroll the boardwalk, or go pier fishing. At noon Saturday, defending Inter-Ac League champ Malvern Prep and Catholic League Class AAAA runner-up Roman Catholic will square off at Maxwell Field in Wildwood. It's Malvern's first trip to the Jersey Shore. Roman reached out to the Friars when it looked as if West Catholic, its Beach Bowl foe the last 12 years, would close its doors this past June.