By, Julia Abbott

What started as a warm, but cloudy, meetup at William O. Regan 12-14, home of the Delbarton Green Wave football team in Morristown, New Jersey The Malvern Prep Friars, located in Malvern, Pennsylvania, made the two-hour trip and made an unbelievable fourth quarter comeback to defeat the Green Wave Saturday afternoon with a final score of 27-17.

The Green Wave’s quarterback, Jadon Prinzivalli, and Friars’ quarterback, Jackson Melconian, threw one interception. Both Prinzivalli and Melconian threw for over 100 yards, still continuing to pass during the fourth-quarter rain downpour.

The first three-quarters of the game was dominated by the Green Wave, scoring one field goal and two touchdowns. Senior captain Phillip Folmar scored the touchdown of the day on a 3-yard rush in the second quarter. The student section of the Green Wave’s breaks their third fence celebrating Folmar’s touchdown, according to a Green Wave parent, but coaches were able to quickly fix the fence temporarily. 

Senior Brock Dandridge scored the lone passing touchdown in the third quarter on the first Green Wave drive, bringing the score 17-0. 

The third quarter ends as it begins drizzling, soon turning into a downpour in the fourth quarter following a missed Friars’ field goal attempt. The Green Wave’s defense struggles in the rain, leading to the Friars’ offense scoring their first points of the game. 

A Friars’ onside kick is successful following their first touchdown, leading to another touchdown that same drive. The Green Waves are unable to answer the Friars’ 12 points, but successfully blocked the point after field goal attempt and a 2-point conversion attempt. 

The Green Wave’s defense allows another Friars’ touchdown, giving the Friars’ their first lead of the afternoon, the score now 20-17 with three minutes remaining in the game and the rain lightening up. 

In the final two minutes of the game, the Friars’ seal their victory with their final touchdown, followed by Prinzivalli’s interception. 

Following the loss, Green Wave’s assistant coach, R.J. Cobbs, remained positive.

“Tough one,” Cobbs said. “But we’ll come back next time.”

Despite the outcome, both teams played well, protecting the ball, even when Melconian fumbled the ball. Hw was able to recover his own fumble, preventing a turnover deep in Green Wave’s territory early in the game. Following Saturday’s game, Delbarton will face the Monsignor Farrell Lions in Staten Island, New York Friday night. Both teams are 1-1 this season. Malvern Prep will face the Roman Catholic Cahillite at home in Malvern, Pennsylvania Friday night. Saturday’s game brought the Friars’ to a 1-1 record, while the Cahilliate’s are 3-0 this season. Both games should be a good watch.