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Backup QB comes to Malvern's rescue

With Malvern Prep quarterback Tom Rumer injured on the field in the fourth quarter of a tied game, junior backup Bill Ford didn't have a lot of time to think.

Malvern Prep's Joseph Barrett celebrates with teammates after recovering a fumble. (Lou Rabito / Staff)
Malvern Prep's Joseph Barrett celebrates with teammates after recovering a fumble. (Lou Rabito / Staff)Read more

With Malvern Prep quarterback Tom Rumer injured on the field in the fourth quarter of a tied game, junior backup Bill Ford didn't have a lot of time to think.

"First I was wondering if he was going to be ready to go back in," Ford said. "Then my coach was screaming in my ear to get snaps, so I did. I was trying to calm myself down because I was a little pumped up."

Ford gained his composure in time to lead the Friars down the field for the go-ahead field goal, enabling host Malvern Prep to edge Haverford School, 17-14, on Saturday in an Inter-Ac League game.

Halfway through the fourth quarter, the Friars (8-1 overall, 4-0 league) faced a critical third and 13 at the Haverford 38. Ford, in his first drive of the game, took the snap, stood tall in the pocket, and fired a 25-yard strike to running back Joe Carlini.

Four plays later, Malvern kicker Dennis Gabert connected on a 36-yard field goal that hit the crossbar before bouncing through the uprights.

Friars coach Kevin Pellegrini said after the game that Ford could start for a lot of other programs, and that he was confident in his backup from the start.

"That was a huge play in this game," Pellegrini said of the pass to Carlini. "He didn't have a ton of practice this week. For him to come in off the sidelines, wait for the guy to clear, and then complete the pass, it's just amazing. It just shows the heart of that kid. He stepped up and got it done."

According to Carlini, who had three catches for 42 yards Saturday, Ford is used to the big stage. Ford has been on Malvern's varsity baseball team since he was a freshman.

"When Tommy went down, we were all fully confident Bill would step up," Carlini said. "He came in cool and calm and brought everyone into the huddle and said we're going to win this game right now."

Pellegrini said that Rumer had a "tweaked knee" and was day-to-day.

Haverford (5-3, 2-2) struggled to move the ball against a stingy Malvern defense. Senior quarterback James Chakey provided most of the offense, finishing 10 for 27 for 141 yards and adding 45 yards on the ground.

After trailing by 7-0 and 14-7, the Fords tied the score on a Matt Galambos 20-yard interception return for a touchdown late in the third quarter. But after Gabert's field goal, Haverford had no answer for the Friars defense.

"I'm really proud of our kids. We fought," Haverford coach Mike Murphy said. "They [the Friars] come out and put a great drive together, go up [7-0], on their field. It would have been easy for us to go away, and we didn't."

Malvern will host Chestnut Hill next week in a game that will decide the Inter-Ac championship. Should Rumer be unavailable, the Friars know they have a capable and confident backup.

Haverford School   7 0 7 0 – 14

Malvern Prep   14 0 0 3 – 17

MP: Eric Purnell 52 run (Dennis Gabert kick)

HS: Ethan Brown 5 run (Aron Morgan kick)

MP: Joe Carlini 13 pass from Tom Rumer (Dennis Gabert kick)

HS: Matt Galambos 20 interception return (Aron Morgan kick)

MP: FG Dennis Gabert 36