Gore scores five TDs as Malvern rolls past Buckeye Trail

It is no secret that Malvern has had its share of low-scoring, drag-it-out battles this season, which is a far cry from the high-octane games from 2024.

For one week, at least, that changed as the Hornets, powered by Julius Gore’s running, dominated Buckeye Trail 54-22 in an Inter-Valley Conference North matchup Oct 3.

On only 19 carries, Gore rushed for 206 yards and scored five times and Malvern piled up 529 yards of offense against the Warriors. Gore scored twice in the first quarter to stake the Hornets to a 12-0 lead before Mason Todd completed a 60-yard TD pass to Sammy Brown to put Buckeye Trail (1-6, 1-1) on the board and trim Malvern’s lead to 12-8.

Gore, however, was just getting started as he scored the Hornets’ next two TDs in the second quarter on runs of 40 and 6 yards. Both PAT passes from Jaxon Jones were good, and Malvern led 28-8. Jones then connected with Roy Simmons on a 40-yard TD pass as the Hornets took a 35-8 lead into the break.

Gore scored his fifth rushing TD in the third quarter, and Malvern added two more scores in the fourth as Jeremiah Fachs completed a 55-yard scoring strike to Camrin Detchon and Nate Ezell broke free for a 50-yard TD run.

Jones had a solid night for the Hornets (5-2, 2-0), completing 8-of-11 passes for 159 yards and a score, while Simmons caught five passes for 81 yards, and Aiden Sprague caught two for 38. On the ground, Simmons added 35 yards on four carries and Ezell had 54 yards on two attempts to complement Gore. Josh Untch paced the defense with eight tackles, while Darnell Jackson and Owen Ball had seven apiece.

Golf

It was a heck of a run for the Malvern boys golf team. Unfortunately, that run ended at the Div. III East District Tournament at River Greens Golf Course Oct. 2, where the Hornets placed fifth with a team score of 337. Berlin Hiland was the lone team selected to advance to the state tournament after posting the day’s low score of 317.

Leading Malvern was senior Cam Good, who carded a 78. He was followed by junior Cooper Kiehl’s 79. Brother’s Tyler and Ayden Pelle each turned in scores of 90, and junior Parker Bowe was just one stroke off after firing a 91.

Volleyball

As the season winds down and thoughts turn to sectionals, the Lady Hornets still had a busy week. First, Malvern traveled to Leetonia for a nonconference match and dispatched the Bears 3-0 (25-13, 25-11, 25-9). 

Addy Mitchell (15 points, 11 aces) and Zoe Sikorsky (13 points, seven aces) were particularly effective in serving for the Hornets. Meanwhile, Ella Debo and Whitney Smith led Malvern with eight and seven kills, respectively. Ashlyn Bush dished out 18 assists, while Sikorsky and Debo both added five. 

The following day, Malvern hosted Conotton Valley for an IVC North contest and lost to the Rockets 3-0 (25-22, 25-9, 25-12). Whitney Smith recorded 11 kills and 11 digs for the Hornets, and Bush added 17 assists and eight digs.

Malvern then hosted Buckeye Trail Oct. 2 for another conference match and again came up short as the Warriors won 3-0 (25-16, 25-16, 25-19). Debo and Sikorsky each recorded six points serving to which Debo added 10 kills. Smith added 10 kills and three blocks, Bush logged 15 assists and Avery Sprague was the defensive leader with 27 digs for Malvern (4-15, 1-9).

Cross Country

As runners gear up for the postseason, Malvern competed in the Tuslaw Invitational, hosted by Nickaback Farms Oct. 4. The Lady Hornets finished fifth out of eight teams and were led by the sister act of Emma (22:43.1) and Olivia (23:03.4) Maher, who medaled following eighth- and ninth-place finishes, respectively.

Mya Doughty placed 30th in 26:03.1, with Lexus Buchman just a second behind in 31st with a time of 26:04.2. Annabell Renz achieved another lifetime PR with her 56th-place finish.

Meanwhile, on the boys’ side, the Hornets placed ninth out of a 12-team field, and were led by the duo of Dalton Pennington (19:06.20) and Jacob McClelland (19:08.90), who came in 24th and 25th. Dekon Pennington finished in 42nd place, Cooper Dorr was 48th, and Parker Babiczuk rounded out the scoring in 108th place.