THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, December 6, 2019 Page 19 Here’s a heaping helping of Thanksgiving leftovers Malden High School players celebrate with the championship trophy after the 29-0 victory on Thanksgiving Day at Hormel Stadium in Medford. (Courtesy/MHS Athletics) By Nick Toscani I f there’s anyone out there who thinks the annual Thanksgiving football game between Malden and Medford has lost any of its luster around town, think again. “I ran into Mayor [Gary] Christenson after the first or second day of preseason camp in the middle of August. It was sunny and probably 85 degrees out,” recalled second-year Malden High head coach Steve Freker after the game Thursday. “So, what do you think his first question was? ‘What do you think about Thanksgiving...Are we looking good against Medford?’” “He’s Malden High football’s biggest supporter,” Freker said of Malden’s mayor, who was reelected to a third term a month ago. “It was great we were able to deliver the win on Thanksgiving.” “There you go. This one really matters,” added Freker on Thanksgiving Day, who was coaching in his 22nd Malden-Medford game on Thursday, the second as head coach. A banner year for Florida transfer Youman What a year it’s been for senior co-captain Jamari Youman, who tacked on two more touchdowns in Malden’s 29-0 shutout win over Medford on Thanksgiving Day. For the season Youman has scored 15 touchdowns and a pair of two-point conversions for 94 points. Five of his touchdowns have come on defense (three “Pick 6” pass interceptions) or special teams (two punt return TDs). Youman’s 94 points finishes his season fifth in the state for scoring in Division 1 and fourth in TDs scored. Andover’s Josh Ramos led the state with 134 points (22 TDs). Malden football assistant coach and historian Peter CarMalden High School senior Jamari Youman (4) had two touchdowns on Thanksgiving and is one of the top scorers in the state with 15 TDs and 94 total points. (Courtesy/MHS Athletics) Malden High School junior Mike Mathes had a pair of long runs to spark the Golden Tornadoes offense on Thanksgiving Day. (Courtesy Photo) Malden High School senior co-captain Jerry Mervil jukes past a Medford defender on Thanksgiving. (Courtesy Photo) The Malden High School team celebrates with Mayor Gary Christenson (center) and the MHS cheerleaders with the championship trophy after the 29-0 win over Medford. (Courtesy/MHS Athletics) roll is scouring the record books to see where Youman might stand all-time. Do not be surprised if he is at or near the top for all-time, single-season scoring. Youman, who transferred over the summer from Florida to Malden, also finished tied for second in the state in TD receptions (10) with Newton North’s Alessio Calcagni. Jake Davis led the state with 11 TD receptions. The lanky, 6-1, 175 lb. senior is being recruited by a number of New England-based colleges. One of his stronger suitors is Curry College, whose offensive coordinator and former seven-year Malden High head coach Joe Pappagallo was on Malden’s sideline on Thanksgiving, rooting on the Golden Tornadoes and pleased as punch with the results. It was also a solid year for sophomore quarterback Shawn Bartholomew, who finished the season with nine TD passes in his first varsity season, with over 700 yards passing and completing over 60 percent of his passes. On his first-ever Thanksgiving Day outing, Bartholomew finished 9-of-13 passing for 150 yards and two TDs. Add in Malden’s 40-14 won over Tech Boston in its previous game, and Bartholomew threw for over 400 yards in his final two games, completing 70-plus-percent of his passes – a solid finish. Final game for eight Golden Tornadoes seniors on Thanksgiving Malden’s four senior co-captains all chipped in with major contributions on both sides of the ball on Thanksgiving: Jerry Mervil, Jamari Youman, Peterson Maxis and Ishmael Sylus. Mervil and Youman were Malden’s heralded big playmakers, as they have been all season. Sylus made the hit of the game and set the tone early when he delivered an extremely loud and crushing tackle of a Medford receiver on screen pass, right in front of the Mustang bench midway through the first quarter. Maxis shored up a relatively new three-man linebacker crew alongside fellow senior Wootchy Pierre Rene and sophomore Mackenley Anasthal, with his best game. Maxis and Anasthal were also major contributors out of the Malden backfield. “Wootchy and Mackenley really stepped up in the second half of the season and earned starting spots in our defense,” Coach Freker said, “and Peterson was there on Thanksgiving when we really needed him. What a game those guys played.” Malden also got super games out of senior two-way linemen Ray Duggan and Sebastien Blanc, as well as two-way starter Kahli Hardmond. “Ray and Sebastien gave us solid seasons. In a year when we did not have much depth on the line, those guys were iron men. Kahli has been another solid guy for us all year,” the Malden coach said. “Football’s a long season and a tough sport, physically and mentally. It’s not for everyone. But these guys really showed what loyalty and commitment to their teammates is all about, and they were in it for the long haul. Our team and coaches really appreciate it.” Good finish for Malden with a pair of wins in 2019 With the win for Malden on Thanksgiving Day, it was a good finish to the season for the Golden Tornadoes with a second straight victory. In its previous game, Malden topped Boston City League opponent Tech Boston, 40-14, and the Tornadoes finish 2-9 overall this season, the best record since 2016 when Malden went 5-6. Before the 2-0 season finish, other highlights of the season included a heartbreaker, 3533 loss to Newton South in triple overtime, only to discover the game was inappropriately stopped by a wrong call and should have been continued. Malden also played “GBLer” Everett to a 6-6 tie at halftime before falling to the eventual league champ. It was also the first season for Malden back in the newly reconstituted Greater Boston League (GBL) with fellow members Everett, Medford and Somerville. Malden finished 1-2 in GBL play with the win over the Mustangs. Everett was GBL champ (3-0 GBL, 8-3 overall) followed by Somerville (2-1 GBL, 2-9 overall), Malden (1-2 GBL) and Medford (0-3 GBL, 0-11 overall). With Revere and Chelsea returning to the GBL in 2020 and many talented Malden players returning next fall season, hopes are high all around.
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