THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Wednesday, November 24, 2021 Page 17 livan and Gibson. Ayuk struck again midway through the third quarter, running back an interception off Mustangs QB Reg Thelemaque for a 58-yard Pick 6 score. Malden QB Loveng Francois ran in the two-point conversion for the 16-0 final. 2014: This was another classic “throw out the records,” upset win that few saw coming, except for those on the Medford sidelines, of course. Under a full cover of snow – over a foot on the artificial surface of Malden’s Macdonald Stadium before it was cleared by game time – second-year Medford Head Coach Jason Nascimento recorded his first Thanksgiving Day coaching win in a 36-12 win over host Malden. Medford came into the game at 1-9 overall and looking to break a long, seven-game Thanksgiving Day win streak for Malden, and they got the job done. Medford QB Adrien Pineda led the way offensively: 5 of 12 passing for 244 yards and three TDs, two to Myles Olivier. Pineda also scored a TD himself on an 11-yard run in the fourth quarter and threw a TD pass to Jose Lopes. For Malden, junior Danley Exilhomme scored both of Malden’s touchdowns, but Medford looked in command with an 18-12 halftime lead. It was all Medford in the second half, led by Pineda and the twoman wrecking crew, defensive duo of Matt Sullivan and Anthony DiRienzo, who were dubbed “The Smash Brothers” in reports on the game. Each also had a key interception in the second half. Sullivan and DiRienzo each had double-digit tackles, making life miserable for the Malden offense. 2015: They showed up at Hormel Stadium for Game #128 at Hormel Stadium… and a Madden Game broke out. Malden scored early, often and then some in a raucous, record-setting victory that honked and hollered all the way in a 5936 Golden Tornadoes victory, the highest scoring game, two teams combined – ever – in series history. It was also the most points Malden had ever scored on Thanksgiving Day and the most since a 50-6 win in 1960. Medford scored 36 points for the second-straight year (and the most points in the 128game history for the series by a team that did not win the game). Malden also set a record in this game, as the Golden Tornadoes defense scored a whopping (and record) five times on the morning. Malden led 28-0 after the first quarter and 45-8 at halftime, but Medford did not quit, led by Cory Moore, who finished with three TDs and 155 yards rushing. Medford owned the second half, outscoring the visitors, 28-14, but led by the Exilhomme Brothers, DJ and Danley, Malden held Medford at bay long enough at the end. Danley Exilhomme returned two interceptions for TDs and ran for two more, and DJ scored three TDs – seven TDs between them. Malden clinched its first GBL title since 1989 with the win. Eighthyear Head Coach Joe Pappagallo added to the momentous day by announcing his resignation at halftime. 2016: Despite scoring early and playing a solid first quarter, Medford ultimately fell to Malden 41-18. The score was closer than it seemed, as Medford scored before Malden was able to take the lead with a late score and PAT – ahead 7-6 at the end of the first quarter on a 38-yard TD run by junior QB Jared Martino. Malden pushed the envelope all first half, trying to convert fourth down situations on three occasions, only to be stuffed by the Medford defense. Martino threw two TD passes in the second quarter to extend Malden’s lead to 21-6 at the half, capitalizing on a failed fake punt attempt by Medford. Martino’s second TD run of the game, a 49-yard burst, gave Malden lots of breathing room, up 28-6. He added a third TD run late in the third quarter, and senior captain Josh Simon capped the scoring late in the fourth quarter for an 18-yard TD to ice. Martino finished with 160 yards rushing and over 100 yards passing to lead the Golden Tornadoes. Senior captain Matt Geer led the Malden defense at linebacker. It was first-year Head Coach Bill Manchester’s first holiday win in his Thanksgiving debut. 2017: Medford and Malden, both entering the game with winless seasons, slugged it out in an exciting back-and-forth game. Medford capitalized on Malden errors, scoring a touchdown on a fumble recovery and scoring after successfully foiling Malden’s attempt at a twopoint conversion. Malden ultimately won the match, 27-22, and the win was the Golden Tornadoes’ only one of the season – second-year Head Coach Bill Manchester’s team finished 1-10 overall. Junior Wesley Pierre stole the show with over 15 rushing yards and two TDs. Freshman QB Justin Nortelus also scored a TD, the first ninth-grader to score for Malden on Thanksgiving ever, it is believed. It was Coach Manchester’s final game, as he resigned his post three weeks later after two years at the helm and two Thanksgiving wins. 2018: The temperature was the big story before this game even started, when a record cold wave gripped the region sending the thermometer to a bone-chilling 15 degrees, with a gusty wind making the wind chill factor around 0 degrees. Medford was the favored team coming in, with a 3-7 record, and Malden was winless (0-10), but the Golden Tornados capitalized on five Medford turnovers, including a lost fumble with under a minute to play on Malden’s 21-yard line and the Golden Tornadoes clinging to a 26-24 lead. Freshman linebacker Justin Desimone recovered his second fumble of the game after Malden senior Sean Stout tackled backup Medford QB Joel Disla, and the ball came free, recovered by Malden. Medford starting QB Keith Barrasso had left the game two plays earlier after an injury. Barrasso had been the game’s best player before that, with a record 230 yards rushing on 24 carries and three touchdowns. Malden got touchdowns from junior Jerry Mervil (2), sophomore Matthew Bessey and sophomore QB Justin Nortelus. At the conclusion of the game, Medford's 10-year Head Coach Jason Nascimento announced he was retiring from the post. First-year Malden Head Coach Steve Freker, the first former Golden Tornadoes player to coach the game in over decade, got a win in his Thanksgiving debut. 2019: The seniors took center stage in a game that Malden controlled on both sides of the ball, from beginning to end, in a 29-0 Golden Tornadoes victory at gusty Hormel Stadium in Medford. It was Malden’s first shutout victory in the ancient series since 2011 and finished off the Golden Tornadoes’ season with a pair of wins (2-9), Malden’s fifth straight over Medford. The Mustangs finished winless. Malden scored first on an 11-yard touchdown pass to senior co-captain Jamari Youman (5 rec., 78 yards, 1 TD). Medford stuffed the two-point conversion try, and Malden led, 6-0. The lead held up until late in the second quarter, despite two deep drives into Medford territory by Malden, which ended on fourth down inside the Mustangs’ 10yard line. With less than three minutes left in the half, sophomore placekicker Ronald Juarez kicked the first Malden field goal in a Thanksgiving Day win since the 1950s when he booted a 37-yarder through a rain shower for a 9-0 Malden halftime lead. The Golden Tornadoes defense, as it was all game, had been solid in the first half, led by sophomore D-linemen Sammy Solorzano, Davenche Sydney and senior co-captains tackle Ray Duggan and cornerback Ismael Sylus, who made the loudest hit of the Malden season to stop a Mustangs drive. Malden held Medford to zero first downs and less than 50 yards total offense in the first half. Senior Jerry Mervil (102 yards rushing, 48 yards receiving) scored on the second play of the second half, a 55-yard TD run for a 15-0 lead. Youman picked off a Medford pass and ran it for 55 yards for a 21-0 lead; Juarez’s PAT was good for 22-0. After some strong running by sophomore Mackenley Anasthal to get the ball to the Medford 25, senior captain Peterson Maxis closed out the scoring with a 15-yard TD run and Juarez’s second PAT kick. It was the debut on Thanksgiving for Medford High first-year Head Coach John Curley. 2021: This game was supposed to be played on Thanksgiving Day 2020, but it was pushed ahead to Saturday, May 6, 2021, the first time a Malden-Medford game was not played in the fall. On a pleasant day that got better as time went by, Medford rode the one-man wrecking crew play of Mustangs senior QB Aidan Barry to a 24-21 victory at sunny Macdonald Stadium. The win ended not only a fivegame Medford losing streak in the series, but it also stopped a 14-game losing streak overall for Medford, stretching into the 2018 season. Barry accounted for nearly 300 yards of offense and all four TDs for the Mustangs with two TD passes and two rushing TDs himself. Malden was led by senior captain Giovani Memeus, who ran for 63 yards and two TDs. It looked like Malden would take the lead on Memeus’s third apparent TD, 56-yard run, but it was called back due to a blocking from behind penalty. Malden made it dramatic at the end when it faced a first down at the Medford 10-yard line with 12 seconds to play. But a holding penalty pushed Malden back to the 20, and with little time left, Malden opted to attempt a 37-yard field goal by junior Ronald Juarez, but the kick missed by less than a foot to the left as Medford erupted into wild celebration. It was the first Malden-Medford win for second-year Head Coach John Curley and the final rivalry game for Malden thirdyear Head Coach Steve Freker (2-1 for Malden-Medford), who ended 21 years of coaching Malden High football when he stepped down in the offseason in favor of new Head Coach Witche Exilhomme. MVRCS names 18 to fall sports All-Star list A s the fall 2021 athletics season concluded, 18 student-athletes were cited by the Commonwealth Athletic Conference (CAC) for achieving All-Star status. This past season saw the boys’ cross country team and girls’ soccer team capture CAC crowns, and the volleyball and girls’ soccer team each qualified for Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association Tournament play. The Eagles tasted success on both the soccer pitch and volleyball court with the maroon & gold winning two and one match(es), respectively, in the postseason. The future certainly looks bright for Eagle athletics as of the 18 honorees, just eight are seniors, and of the remaining 10, three student-athletes are in Grade 8. The following is a complete listing of the student-athletes lauded by the CAC for their outstanding play as selected by league coaches and administrators. Boys Cross Country Jacob Stover, League MVP, Sr. (Medford) Daniel Nguyen, Jr. (Malden) Liam Powers, 8th Grader, (Medford) Euba Tafese, Jr. (Malden) Jason Yan, Soph. (Malden) Girls Cross Country Asal Bahrampouri, Jr. (Malden) Britney Nayiga, 8th Grader (Malden) Rupa Raj, Sr. (Melrose) Boys Soccer Allen Bulic, Sr. (Malden) David Pousseu 8th Grader (Saugus) Gui Silva, Jr. (Malden) Girls Soccer Lucia Antonucci, 8th Grader (Malden) Gianna Gray, Sr. (Malden) Hailey Hickey, Sr. (Medford) Reilly Hickey, Soph. (Medford) Millie Reynolds, Sr. (Stoneham) Volleyball Ilona Beacom-Domotor, Sr. (Melrose) Mairead St. Clair, Sr. (Melrose)
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