Page 14 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, November 14, 2025 IT WAS A WET ONE! Whittier Tech plays ‘keep away,’ rains running game on Malden, 40-22 Wildcats take huge time of possession advantage; Malden’s McGuffie scores 2 more TDs By Steve Freker A cronyms and Sports often go together like peanut butter and jelly. They always seem to pop up out of nowhere and then get married to the parlance of the day for those who “speak Sports.” Check this out, an illuminating statistic if there ever was one from Whittier Tech’s overpowering win over Malden on October 30. In the first half of the eventual 40-22 victory, the Wildcats’ T.O.P. was a mind-boggling 18 minutes, 51 seconds — out of 24 total minutes of clock time! T.O.P. = Time of Possession, for anyone who follows football with a fairto-middling interest. So, it was no wonder that Malden — having had merely two offensive possessions — was trailing 20-8 at halftime. The way Whittier Tech’s double-wing ground attack hogged the ball all half, it could have been a lot worse! Malden, to its credit, generated its best drive of the half, which covered 37 yards and ended with a 3-yard Jayden McGuffie touchdown with just 3 seconds left to play. Despite the one-sided final, Malden’s “Designated Scorer,” McGuffie, still scored 2 TDs and 2 conversions (18 more points) and ran for 143 yards on 13 carries. It was more of the same in the second half for Whittier Tech (and more driving rain) — which did not throw ONE pass in the entire first half, only ONE for the whole game (a 37-yard completion) — in the third quarter as the Wildcats devoured twothirds of that period as well. Whittier scored once more on a Noah Allen 7-yard run and a Jazavier Vazquez conversion for a 28-8 lead. Afterward, Whittier tacked on another score for a 36-8 lead. Malden got a second touchdown run from McGuffie, a 38-yard burst, to cut the lead to 36-14. Whittier just annihilated the clock some more in the fourth quarter, rolling up more rushing yards and another score, a 21-yard run by Noah Allen, to go ahead 40-22. Malden senior linebacker Ismail Elbahlawan had picked up a fumble just over midfield and rambled down the sideline all the way for a score three plays earlier. For the night, Whittier held possession for over 33 minutes to just 15 for Malden, which fell to 2-6 overall with the loss. *** EXTRA POINTS: Malden made it a touching tribute to Whittier Tech Head Coach and Athletic Director Kevin Bradley before the game. Malden Public Schools Athletic Director Charlie Conefrey, the entire Golden Tornado team and coaching staff crossed over the field from their bench and presented Coach Bradley — who is battling cancer — with a ball and “Sunshine” card, both signed by the entire team and staff. “He [Coach Bradley] is a good man and a respected coach. We wanted to brighten up his day,” said Malden Head Coach Witche Exilhomme... The Tornado sophomore star running back continued to take his statistics into the stratosphere, surpassing the 1,200-yard rushing mark and passing last year’s total (1,173 yards). McGuffie also has 16 TDs and 11 2-point conversions, good for 118 points. His 2,373 yards are believed to be a career-high for a runner in Tornado football history. And he has two games left to play!... Malden dropped a 46-25 game to visiting Watertown on November 6 in a non-playoff game at Macdonald Stadium... Malden celebrated Senior Night for football players and cheerleaders, their families and friends that evening. Story, photos coming in next week’s edition... Malden (2-7 overall) was scheduled to host Lexington (27) from the Middlesex League last night at Macdonald Stadium. It was to be a record-setting 7th home game this season for Malden, the first time the Golden Tornado football program has hosted 7 home games in a single fall season. Jayden McGuffie (2) racked up 2 more TDs and 143 more yards rushing. (Advocate Photo/Henry Huang) Pregame National Anthem on the Malden sideline for captains Kenny Melgar Turcios (11), Billy Gavin (12) and Manny Perez (83) and Receivers/DBs Coach Jean Sylvain (Advocate Photo/Henry Huang) Malden sophomore Nathan Schonton (7) picks up some big “YAC” — Yards After Catch. (Advocate Photo/Henry Huang) Whittier Tech Head Coach Kevin Bradley receives a “sunshine” card and signed football from all the Malden High School Football Team, coaches and Athletic Director Charlie Conefrey wishing him well as he battles cancer. (Advocate Photo/Henry Huang)
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