2026 Team Preview: The Malvern Prep Friars

Tagged under: News, Non-PIAA, pfn, Team Previews

Billy Splain | August 21, 2026

The Malvern Prep Friars

Head Coach: Dave Gueriera

Team Name: Malvern Prep

Class: 5A

League: Inter-Academic League
2025 Season Record: 8-2

Key Starters Lost:
Jackson Melconian QB
Jackson Ford DL
Bryce Willey OL
Max Mohring LB
Zeke Bates RB
Ian Gopez P
Joe Rosano LB
Dylan Novak TE

Offensive Starters Returning:
Tyler Graham OL 6-5, 270
Cade Cooper WR 6-3, 200
Brian Johnson C 5-10, 250
Ronan Burke OL 6-4, 275
Adam Briggs OL 6-3, 275
Jack Schuster WR 5-11, 200

Defensive Starters Returning:
George Parkinson DE 6-4, 230
Naim Hammond DE 6-3 230
Will Simmons LB 5-11 225
Stevie Smith FS 5-11 190
Jack Schuster CB 5-11 200

Special Team Starters Returning:
Nick Riely LS 5-11 170
Stevie Smith PR 5-11 190

Key Newcomers:
Lukas Zalota SR (Injured Junior Year) OL/DL 6-3 245
Jack Magee SO LB 6-1 200
Nick Hoffman SO DB/WR 5-10 180

2026 Returning Player Stats:
Cade Cooper WR – 44 catches – 644 yards – 6 TD’s
Jack Schuster WR – 28 catches – 443 yards – 3 TD’s
Stevie Smith WR – 5 catches – 61 yards

2026 Offensive Outlook: We return a veteran offensive line and wide receivers. How we mesh together with some new faces will be very important for our Offensive success.

2026 Defensive Outlook: We will have alot of new faces but return most of our DL. Our defense will be successful if we are playing fundamentally sound on all three levels.

2026 Special Teams Outlook: We are replacing a very good K/P who graduated. We return our long snapper and punt returner Stevie Smith. Our kicking duties will be shared by SR Jack Keegan and SR Will Simmons

2026 Schedule

	08-27 6:00 pm	vs. MU Sports Academy (QC)	Scrimmage	–
	09-04 5:00 pm	@ La Salle College (0-0)	Ocean City High School	–
	09-12 7:00 pm	@ Imhotep Charter (0-0)	Germantown Supersite	–
	09-19 3:00 pm	@ St. Joseph’s Prep (0-0)	Franklin Field	–
	09-25 7:00 pm	vs. Our Lady of Good Counsel (MD)		–
	10-02 7:00 pm	@ Gonzaga (DC)		–
	10-17 1:00 pm	vs. Germantown Academy (0-0)	Division Game / League Game	–
	10-24 1:00 pm	@ Haverford School (0-0)	Division Game / League Game	–
	10-30 7:00 pm	vs. Episcopal Academy (0-0)	Division Game / League Game	–
	11-07 1:00 pm	@ William Penn Charter (0-0)	Division Game / League Game	–
	11-13 5:00 pm	vs. Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (0-0)	Division Game / League Game	–