ROOKIE ROYALTY: McGuffie runs Mc-‘Wild’ in Record-Setting Season

Malden High 9th-grader is first freshman to rush for 1,000 yards-plus in Tornado football history

By Steve Freker

Everyone got an inkling of what might be in store this fall when the kid fairly effortlessly knifed through a very big and talented BC High defense in Malden’s last scrimmage match of the season. He ran for two touchdowns and essentially left the words “sky’s the limit” on everyone’s lips. So, it turns out, they were right. With the 2024 season wound down to just one more game, Jayden McGuffie’s accomplishments have been a big highlight of what has overall been an understated season, team record-wise.

The Malden 9th grader had already set one major Tornado Football school record earlier this season when he ran for 368 yards and scored 5 touchdowns in an overtime loss to Somerville. Not enough for this kid. This past week McGuffie needed just 11 more yards on the ground to allow him to pass a major milestone. The 5-10, 170 freshman got that on his very first carry, going on to finish the night with 182 yards on 20 carries and a two-point conversion. With another big night, McGuffie became the first freshman to ever surpass 1,000 yards rushing in a single season for Malden High. He now has 1,170 yards on 145 carries this season.

McGuffie, who has also scored 11 touchdowns this season to lead the Greater Boston League, is not your average runner, to say the least. “He’s shifty, but a very strong shifty who can stop and juke someone pretty easily. Or, if need be, he can also run someone over,” said Malden 4th-year Head Coach Witche Exilhomme, who has been a mentor to McGuffie and his family of two other former Tornado football standouts: Davian (Class of 2024) and Nik McGuffie (Class of 2021).

Coach Exilhomme said he expected McGuffie to have a decent season offensively, but not in the dominant fashion he has shown at times: “He is an exceptional athlete, a very solid mix of strength and speed. He also has a nose for the end zone and this is so hard to teach a player. It’s just instinct.”

Coach Exilhomme took over the play-calling on offense this season, and the result has been a dramatic turnaround from a team that was shutout 10 times in the past two seasons, to averaging 27.0 points per games this season. Malden has featured a balanced attack, with McGuffie the #1 back as well as a receiver out of the backfield. In the air, senior Quarterback Aidan Brett’s favorite target has been fellow senior captain Kevin Exilhomme, who has 7 TDs.

Unfortunately for Malden, its defense, which was projected to be lockdown tough this year, lost some key players to injury – including senior captains James Hyppolite and Matheus Brito – both out for the season. The result has been a leaky Malden “D” that has let an average of 31 points per game.

Everyone is looking for a turnaround on Thanksgiving morning, when Malden hosts rival Medford on November 28 at 10:00 at Macdonald Stadium. “We have one more chance to put it all together,” said Coach Exilhomme, whose team takes a 2-7 overall record into Game #137 versus Medford.

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Great debut in starting role for QB2 Billy Gavin against Lowell

Malden fell to Lowell in a non-league, non-playoff matchup at frigid Macdonald Stadium last Thursday, November 14 in a 27-20 final. Junior Billy Gavin got his first career start at QB and made it into a big night with 14-of-22 passing for 165 yards and 3 TDs, all to senior captain Kevin Exilhomme. Gavin was starting in place of senior Aidan Brett, who had to sit out due to an equipment malfunction – a faulty knee brace.

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Thanksgiving Game tickets now on sale!

Tickets for Game #137 between Malden and Medford on Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, November 28 are now on sale in the Malden High Athletic Office. According to gofan.com, gate tickets are $10, adult tickets are $7 and student tickets are $5. “Additional fees may apply. All purchases are non-refundable.”