Golden Tornadoes get healthy for stretch run

Malden hopes to take a step in the right direction with strong finish

  After a week off to get key personnel healthy for the stretch run, the Malden Golden Tornadoes were scheduled to face visiting Beverly in a non-playoff game on Thursday night, Nov. 10, at MacDonald Stadium.

  “We should be healthy up front on both the offense and defensive side of the ball,” said Head Coach Witche Exilhomme prior the contest against the Panthers. “We’re getting our starting center back [Karl Lange], and wide receiver and Boston Globe Player of the Week Davian McGuffie is also returning, as well as starting quarterback Aidan Brett.”

  Coming into the Beverly game, Malden was 3-5 overall, 1-4 in the Greater Boston League (GBL). They have already defeated Whittier Tech (48-34), Chelsea (38-12) and Somerville (44-12). But games against Melrose (46-26), Lynn Classical (22-6), Lynn English (8-6), Everett (42-6) and Revere (23-0) went into the loss column. Malden was 3-1 at one point, but the injuries started to pile up; that ended up spoiling its playoff plans.

  After losing its first eight games of the season, Beverly won the last two games against Swampscott (28-23) and Winchester (28-14). The win over the Sachems was the Panthers’ first non-playoff game.

  But now Malden is getting some of the walking wounded back, and coach Exilhomme is expecting a strong finish. “We are looking to finish 5-5 this year, which will be a success and a step in the right direction for this program,” he said. “This team has definitely overcome a lot this year.”

  Joining Malden in Week 10 action are a bunch more games; they are St. John’s of Shrewsbury at Lynn Classical; Lowell at Newton South; Haverhill at Lexington; Lawrence at Acton-Boxborough; Peabody at Westford Academy; Concord-Carlisle at Woburn; Winchester at Cambridge Rindge & Latin; North Andover at Waltham; Arlington at Lincoln-Sudbury; Beverly at Malden; Masco at Revere; Lynn English at Boston Latin; Dracut at Somerville; Tewksbury at Melrose; Newburyport at Burlington; Salem at Danvers; Wayland at Malden Catholic; Medford at Wilmington; Arlington Catholic at Ipswich; Swampscott at Winthrop; Gloucester at Triton; Pentucket at Greater Lowell; Saugus at Whittier Tech; O’Bryant at Weston; Brighton at Watertown; East Boston at Georgetown; South Boston/Excel at Chelsea; Minuteman at Hamilton-Wenham; and Tech Boston at Latin Academy. Belmont, Boston English and Roxbury Prep have opted out this week.

  Malden’s GBL rival Everett remains in the playoff hunt after beating host Taunton last Friday night, 33-14. The Tide will now face host Central Catholic in Lawrence on Friday night, starting at 5 p.m.