Golden Tornado Football welcomes close to 60 players for preseason camp

Fifth-year Head Coach Witche Exilhomme announces captains for 2025 season: Gavin, Perez, Turcios, Granderson, McGuffie

By Steve Freker

At Macdonald Stadium, fifth-year head coach Witche Exilhomme welcomed nearly 60 football hopefuls to preseason practice sessions this week, close to the most he’s ever had for Malden High football.

“We are very happy about the turnout, we had been hoping for some bigger numbers this season,” said coach Exilhomme, a former star three-sport athlete at Malden High who was a defensive standout at American International College (AIC) and at the pro level in Arena Football. “We have some good leaders and we are looking forward to what this season will bring.”

Coach Exilhomme revealed that captains have been named and he and his staff are looking for some leadership from senior captains Billy Gavin, Manny Perez and Kenny Turcios, junior Noah Granderson and sophomore Jayden McGuffie. Gavin will be “QB1” this season, Perez will be a starting split end, Turcios is a key defensive back, Granderson is a returning 6-5, 305 two-way tackle and McGuffie is a record-setting running back who ran for over 1,300 yards and scored 18 TDs last season.

Malden High football will be on the road for a pair of upcoming scrimmage sessions, including a road trip tomorrow, Saturday, August 23, at 10:00 a.m. at Beverly High School and then again on Friday, August 29, at 5:00 p.m. versus Catholic Conference power Boston College High School on the road on Morrissey Boulevard in Dorchester.

The football season opener is set for Friday, September 12, at 7:00 p.m. versus Lynn Tech on the road at Manning Field, Lynn.

Here’s the rest of the Malden High Varsity Football Schedule:

Thursday, Sept. 18: vs. Somerville, Macdonald Stadium, Malden, 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 25: vs. Northeast Metro Tech, Macdonald Stadium, Malden, 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 4: at Lynn Classical, Manning Field, Lynn, 5:00 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 9: vs. Lynn English, Macdonald Stadium, Malden, 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, Oct 16: vs. Chelsea, Macdonald Stadium, Malden, 6:00 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 24: at Revere, Della Russo Stadium, Revere, 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 30: vs. Whittier Tech, Macdonald Stadium, Malden, 6:00 p.m.

Week of Nov. 7: Playoff or Consolation Game, TBA

Week of Nov. 14: Playoff or Consolation Game, TBA

THANKSGIVING GAME: Thursday, Nov. 27: at Medford, Hormel Stadium, Medford, 10:00 a.m.

***

Malden Boys Soccer is also scrimmaging tomorrow, Saturday, August 23, at 8:00 a.m. right down the bike path at Mystic Valley Charter School on Eastern Avenue (beside the fieldhouse), then again on Friday, August 30, at 4:00 p.m. on the road at Saugus at Anna Parker Field. The Malden season opener is Monday, September 9, on the road versus Lynn English at Manning Field, Lynn.

Malden Girls Volleyball will be hosting a 10-team Jamboree today (Friday, August 22) from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Malden High’s Finn Gym. The season and Greater Boston League opener is Wednesday, September 4, at Everett High at 5:15 p.m.

Malden Girls Soccer is playing in a doubleheader scrimmage on Sunday, August 25, at Medford High fields behind the school in a jamboree against Winthrop at 1:00 p.m. and Arlington Catholic at 2:00 p.m. Then on Friday, August 30, at 3:00 p.m. there is a game versus Rockport at home at Pine Banks. The season opener is Thursday, September 5, at home versus Lynn English at Pine Banks at 4:15 p.m.