Gallen stars as Malvern Prep rolls over Penn Charter
All-purpose star Troy Gallen notches 175 yards and three touchdowns in the Friars' 41-0 victory.
WHAT MAKES Malvern Prep's Troy Gallen tick? Why, after already committing to Delaware, would he continue to lug the rock up and down the field with a banged-up shoulder while defenders try to knock him around?
Why not just chill? Pack it in? Kick your feet up and call it a high school career?
"I just want to be the best player I can be," said Gallen, a 6-foot, 175-pound utility blade who plays a little wide receiver, a little halfback, some slot and some cornerback. "I don't think this little injury is going to stop me from doing what I want to do."
A bruised left shoulder did stop him from finishing against the Haverford School, which beat the Friars, 34-31, in double overtime. The 17-year-old senior missed last week entirely, though Malvern (5-2, 2-1 Inter-Ac) outlasted Germantown Academy, 46-21.
Fit for the field in Inter-Ac play Friday night, Gallen dissected Penn Charter's defense to the tune of 175 all-purpose yards, three touchdowns and a 41-0 Malvern victory, which sets up a game at undefeated Episcopal Academy (7-1, 2-0) next week.
"It's a big game, and I'm looking forward to it," Gallen said, "but trying not to look ahead too much."
In the rearview for now are the Quakers (4-4, 1-2), who fell behind early after Gallen punched a 5-yarder in for a 6-0 lead after a missed extra point by Jon Dollfus.
Malvern junior QB Alex Hornibrook assisted Gallen for the next two scores. The first, a toss down the left hash mark, found Gallen for a 67-yard score. Touchdown No. 3 came on a swing pass that found Gallen hemmed in on the left side, though nothing a quick burst couldn't solve. Fifty-six yards later, it was 20-0 after a good Dollfus PAT.
Hornibrook went 6-for-6 for 186 yards and a pair of TDs in the game.
Penn Charter's Corey Kelley rushed for 119 yards on only nine carries.
A 32-yard interception return by Jordan Majors swelled the lead further, and a 16-yard scoring run by Matt Brown made it 34-0 at intermission.
Gallen logged only one carry in the second half and lost a yard on the play, but the game was already decided, and there was no need to pour it on.
Malvern finished with the ball at the PC 9 and ran out the final minute and change with three kneeldowns. Next up, Episcopal, which beat Malvern, 26-7, last season en route to an undefeated Inter-Ac crown.
"I think we just have to focus on ourselves and not so much on what they do," Gallen said. "I think we're ready to go. We'll word hard all week, and we'll be ready."