THE INTER-AC League's football glass was 60 percent full the last two seasons. With champions.

We'll let you decide whether tri-champions back to back in a five-team league is kinda cool or way too weird and, meanwhile, we'll report that a repeat is highly unlikely.

Makers of championship rings or jackets are not going to like this, but the 2005 race could feature just one horse and its name is Malvern Prep.

Yes, the same MP that last year went 1-3 in league play and 3-8 overall for the second worst campaign (the 1990 mark was 2-8) in the wonderful career of coach-forever Gaspare "Gamp" Pellegrini.

"Well, it was certainly a wakeup call," said Pellegrini, who is in his 28th Malvern season and 39th consecutive as a city-leagues boss. "It made us say, 'Yo, what are we doing here?' It was like a smack in the face.

"Now? We're such a better football team. I've never made offseason weightlifting mandatory because I've never believed in that. But this offseason, my assistants were there and many of the kids came much more often. So, we're definitely stronger."

The Friars' headliner is wideout-cornerback Trey Womack, a speedy leaper who has been offered by the likes of Virginia and scrutinized by Nebraska, among others.

"He can help a college team on either side of the ball," Pellegrini said. "Most of the kids who run as fast as he does are 5-9, 5-10. He's 6-1, which really adds to his appeal."

Ian Mitchell is the other corner, as well as the quarterback. The chief rusher is Jimmie Cotton.

"Ian can run and throw. He's really coming into his own," Pellegrini said. "And Jimmie, well, we need to find a way to get him the ball more often."

Two-way tackle Paul Ostick, a 6-3, 250-pound junior, will be pushing for a Division I scholarship by this time next year, Pellegrini feels.

Elsewhere, there are interesting coaching subplots.

Bill Gallagher, who produced five titles in 13 years at Penn Charter (1981-91, 1993-94), is now in charge at Episcopal, and Michael Murphy, a chief assistant last year at Episcopal, is now calling Haverford School's shots.

"I'm glad to be back in the Inter-Ac," Gallagher said. "I'm looking forward to a number of good years at Episcopal."

Malvern's chief challenge could come from PC, even though two of the league's best athletes opted to drop football and concentrate on other sports. Thanks mainly to rugged rusher Alex Holcombe, Germantown Academy also should remain respectable.

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EPISCOPAL ACADEMY
Coach: Bill Gallagher, 1st year (also Chestnut Hill, 1973-80; Penn
Charter, 1981-91 and 1993-94; Springfield Montco, 2004); Education:
Judge, Notre Dame. Career: 129-55-4.
Last year: 3-1, triple tie 1st; 7-3.
Great eight: Charlie Barks, Rec.-DB, 5-9, 150; Tim Ivory, QB-DB, 5-10,
165; Jimmy Byrne, Rec.-DB, 6-1, 170; Ben Kissner, RB-LB-K, 5-9, 215; Sam
Daly, G, 6-foot, 200; Scott Ritrovato, C, 6-foot, 190; Bill Bagnell, DE,
6-foot, 205; Zachary Morse, T-DT, 6-2, 210.
Happy about: ability, enthusiasm.
Concerned about: inexperience, adjustment to new coaches.
Gallagher’s comment: “We’ll hope to make a run in the league after the
nonleague schedule gets us ready.”
GERMANTOWN ACADEMY
Coach: Michael “Pup” Turner, 5th year; Education: Germantown Academy,
Penn. Career: 18-19.
Last year: 3-1, triple tie 1st; 4-6.
Great eight: Joe Traynor, Rec.-DE, 6-6, 245; Mark Brown, Rec.-DB, 5-11,
170; Alex Holcombe, RB-LB, 5-11, 205; Dan Meloro, C-LB, 5-10, 190; Derek
Pediford, RB-DB, 5-10, 190; Matt Shearon, T-DT, 6-2, 225; Charlie Taft,
QB, 6-foot, 160; Griff Asplundh, Rec., 6-1, 180.
Happy about: experienced linemen.
Concerned about: inside linebacking.
Turner’s comment: “We hope to compete for the Inter-Ac title.”
HAVERFORD SCHOOL
Coach: Michael Murphy, 1st year; Education: Quakertown, East
Stroudsburg. Career: 0-0.
Last year: 0-4, 5th; 2-8.
Great eight: Marty Gallagher, QB, 6-1, 175; Andrew Hanna, RB-LB, 5-10,
190; Eric Pender, C-DT, 6-1, 235; Kevin Kerr, T-DE, 6-2, 215; Nick Tom,
RB-LB, 5-10, 185; Fred Ferro, RB-DB, 6-1, 185; Chris Aitken, Rec.-DB,
6-3, 195; Andrew Thompson, G-DT, 5-10, 210.
Happy about: senior leadership, intensity.
Concerned about: secondary, learning new schemes.
Murphy’s comment: “We’re expecting our nonleague schedule to make us
competitive for Inter-Ac play.”
MALVERN PREP
Coach: Gaspare “Gamp” Pellegrini, 28th year (also St. Thomas More,
1967-69; St. Joseph’s Prep, 1970-77); Education: St. Thomas More,
Delaware. Career: 241-140-9; 182-82-8 at Malvern.
Last year: 1-3, 4th; 3-8.
Great eight: Trey Womack, Rec.-DB, 6-1, 180; Ian Mitchell, QB-DB, 5-10,
175; Jimmie Cotton, RB, 5-9, 160; Tom Hagan, RB-DE, 6-1, 220; Steve
Layne, LB, 5-9, 190; Joe Rawlings, G, 5-11, 230; Paul Ostick, T-DE, 6-3,
250; Edvard Augustin, T-DT, 6-2, 230.
Happy about: still being vertical, returning vets.
Concerned about: making it to the field and remembering the plays.
Pellegrini’s comment: “We certainly believe we can play with everybody
on our schedule.”
PENN CHARTER
Coach: Brian McCloskey, 11th year (also Penn Charter, 1992); Education:
Penn Charter, Ursinus. Career: 60-35.
Last year: 3-1, triple tie 1st; 7-3.
Great eight: Brendan McNally, QB-DB, 6-3, 195; Michael Weick, RB-LB,
5-10, 215; Joe Rauchut, RB-LB, 6-foot, 200; Rob Kolansky, T-DT, 5-10,
195; Kevin McGarvey, Rec.-DB, 5-10, 160; Drew Fullen, C-DT, 6-4, 190;
Ned Bryan, T-DT, 6-3, 225; Sean Dressel, RB-Rec.-LB, 6-foot, 185.
Happy about: line depth, young players.
Concerned about: special teams.
McCloskey’s comment: “The league will be a challenge, but I still think
we’ll have a shot.”