Downingtown West runs over Avon Grove

October 29, 2021, 8:38 pm

≫ Next: Malvern Prep defense shuts down Germantown Academy

@PeteDLNontwitter

DOWNINGTOWN- The current group Downingtown West football seniors have been through a whole lot of adversity during the past two years. A tragic loss of a teammate before the season started and then two excruciating losses to powers Coatesville and Downingtown East. But, for one Friday night at a rain soaked Kottmeyer Stadium, the Whippets could smile. Downingtown West rolled up 353 yards on the ground and played excellent defense as the Whippets took down Avon Grove 33-6, in a Ches-Mont National Division finale for the two teams.

“We formed a special bond this season, Downingtown west linebacker Will Mahmud said. “The young guys looked up to us and we seniors all stuck together. Tonight was a good night for us. We came out and put up a lot of points and did not give up many against a team we thought we could beat. We wanted to finish things off well and we did that tonight.”

Downingtown West (2-2 Ches-Mont, 5-5 overall) got things rolling right away as Elijiah Ford took a pitch from senior quarterback Evan Wickersham and darted 69 yards down the left sideline for an early 7-0 Downingtown West lead. After a three and out from the Red Devils (0-4, 3-7) offense, the Whippets running game took command again.

The Whippets went on a nice 65 yard touchdown drive behind the running of John Mullville and Mahmud. Mullville rushed for 133 yards on 20 carries on the night and he was a load to take down., consistently dragging Avon Grove tacklers. Mulville finished the drive with a one yard plunge to score, the first of his three touchdowns on the night.

With a 14-0 lead in the second period and the Whippets performing perfectly it looked like it would be a mercy rule game. But Avon Grove had other ideas, going on a 18 play drive that chewed up over 10 minutes of the second period. The drive culminated when Connor Walsh hit Owen Yoder in the back of the end zone for a 11 yard touchdown pass and it was a 14-6 Whippets advantage.

But, just before the half, the Whippets turned a short Avon Grove kickoff into a scoring drive with Mahmud going straight up the middle of the Avon Grove defense for a 26 yard touchdown run and at halftime it was a 20-6 Whippets lead.

“We wanted to come out and play well today and we did not know if we were playing for a playoff spot or not,” Downingtown West senior linebacker Ryan Waters said. “We just wanted to winches game. This has been a real close group of seniors and it was nice to play well if this was our last game.”

The Whippets took another short kickoff to start the third period but a Downingtown west fumble resulted in a turnover and Avon Grove had the ball at its own 49 yard line. The Red Devils drove the football down to the Whippets 25 yard line but the West defense stiffened and the Red Devils turned the ball over on downs when Walsh pass to Yoder fell incomplete on fourth down.

Now it was time for Downingtown West to chew up the clock with its running game. Mulville, Wickersham and Mahmud did the job and the Whippets put the game away on a 10 yard touchdown run by Mulville for a 27-6 Downingtown West lead. The Red Devils could not move the ball in the second half as the Whippets held Avon Grove to just 110 yards rushing on the night.

Mulville finished the scoring in the fourth period when he broke two tackles on his way to a 26 yard touchdown run to make it a 33-6 game and the Whippets stormy season ended with a win as they will finish one spot outside the 16 team 6A playoffs.

“This is a special group kids,” Downingtown West head coach Mike Milano said. “I can’t even imagine everything they have been through. What a great group.”

Downingtown West 33, Avon Grove 6.

Avon Grove 0 6 0 0-6

Downingtown West 14 6 0 6-33

Scoring

First Period

DW_ Ford 69 run (Cacciavillano kick)

DW-Mulville 1 run (Cacciavillano kick)

Second Period

AG-Yoder 11 pass from Walsh (kick failed)

DW-Mahmud 26 run (kick failed)

Fourth Period

DW-Mulville 10 run (Cacciavilano kick)

DW-Mulville 23 run (kick failed)

Team Totals

AG DW

First downs 9 16

Yards rushing 110 353

Yards passing 81 0

Total yards 191 353

Passing 5-10-1 0-1-0

Fumbles-lost 4-1 2-1

Punts-avg. 3-42.5 0-0

Penalties-yds 4-40 2-10

Individual Statistics

Rushing: AG: Lorusso 13-84; Binstead 5-16; Walsh 13-10. DW: Mulville 20-133, 3 TD’s; Ford 2-79, TD; Barry 5-5; Wickersham 6-40; Mahmud 10-96, TD.

Passing: AG: Walsh 5-10-81, TD. DW: Wickersham 0-1-0.

Receiving: AG: Yoder 1-11, TD; McDannald 2-26; Delgado 1-40; Pedersen 1-4. DW: None.

Sacks: AG: None. DW: None.

Interceptions: SG: None. DW: Kester.

EOF-

↧

Malvern Prep defense shuts down Germantown Academy

October 30, 2021, 2:39 pm

≫ Next: Downingtown East holds off strong Spring-Ford rally

≪ Previous: Downingtown West runs over Avon Grove

pdgiovanni07@gmail.com

@PeteDLNontwitter

MALVERN- Saturday afternoon at the Pellegrini Sports Complex the Malvern Prep football team took another big step in securing a coveted Inter-Academic league title by dominating Germantown Academy 31-7, in Inter-Ac League action.

Malvern Prep (3-0, Inter-Ac, 6-2 overall) got a big boost to start the game when D’Angelo Stocker got things going by taking the opening kickoff 95 yards to give the friars an early 7-0 lead. Stocker took the ball near the right sideline and burst through hole in the Patriots (1-2, 4-3) coverage and then outran everyone for the touchdown.

“I saw a hole and I went through it as fast as I could to get things started for us.” Stocker said

Germantown Academy then went on a long, 10 play, 90 yard touchdown drive, fueled by the tough running of Brain Allen. Allen had two big runs on the drive and finished it off with a three yard touchdown run to tie things up at 7-7 after six minutes of play. Allen ended the day with 123 yards rushing on 19 carries but was held in check after the opening drive by a fired up Friars defense.

Malvern Prep also saw starters Colton Deery and Isaiah Wright go down to injuries in the Patriots opening drive. Deery returned to be a big part of the Friars defense but Wright was sidelined from that point.

“We had some adversity losing Isaiah,” Malvern prep head coach Dave Gueriera said. “D’Angelo got us going with the return and then to lose Wright was a big blow. He cleans up a lot of things from his safety spot but other guys, like Ryan Davis and Dale Law really stepped up for us. After the first drive I think we screwed down on them pretty well.”

Malvern Prep took advantage of a 12 yard Patriots punt to get the ball on the Patriots 35 yard line midway through the second period. Five plays later quarterback Jack Capaldi went in from two yards out and the Friars had a 21-7 lead. After a Patriots three and out and another poor punt, Jake Reid drilled a 33 yard field goal and the Friars had a 24-7 halftime lead.

Running backs Yaahdir Nash and Jaylyn Evans field in for the injured Wright in the Friars backfield and both ran hard and kept the chains moving for Malvern Prep, who had 15 first downs for the game.

The Malvern Prep defense limited the patriots to just 32 passing yards on the day and after the first Germantown Academy scoring drive, shutout the Patriots for the rest of the game. Linebacker Ryan Davis had eight tackles and Davis, along with Law and Derry took control of the game.

“We had some calls that went wrong on the first drive and messed up our defensive line,” Davis said. “After that we cleaned things up and shut them down. This defense plays with an edge and since the Inter-Ac games started we have turned things up a notch. We really want to win the inter-Ac and bring it back to Malvern.’

The second half was a defensive battle between the two teams with the only scoring coming late in the third period when Evans capped a long Malvern Prep drive with a one yard scoring plunge and the Friars walked away with a commanding 31-7 win.

“We played through some adversity today,” Gueriera said. “Now we have to get ready for a tough game next Friday agains Episcopal Academy. We will need a very good week of practice.”

Malvern Prep 31, Germantown Academy 7.

Germantown Academy 7 0 0 0-7

Malvern Prep 14 10 7 0-31

Scoring

M-Stocker 95 kickoff return (Reid kick)

GA- Allen 3 run (Smith kick)

M-Nash 3 run (Reid kick)

Second Period

M-Capaldi 2 run (Reid kick)

M-Reid 33 FG

Third Period

M-Evans 1 run (Reid kick)

Team Totals

GA MP

First downs 12 15

Yards rushing 177 184

Yards passing 32 55

Total yards 209 239

Passing 6-14-1 6-12-0

Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-0

Punts-avg 5-20.5 2-55.0

Penalties-yds 3-35 2-10

Individual Statistics

Rushing: GA: Allen 19-123, TD; Machado 2 (-16); Spivey 6-45; Lara 1-4; Dyches 6-21. MP: Pippin 3-8; Nash 10-3, TD;7-20, TD; Czarzasty 9-70. Evans 11-50, TD; Capaldi 7-20, TD; Czarzasty 9-70.

Passing: GA: Machado 6-14-32. MP: Capaldi 6-11-55. Pippin 0-1-0.

Receiving: GA: McGhee 1-1; Knox 1-1; Donahue 3-22; Allen 1-8. MP: Falkenstein 3-32; Brecker 1-4’ Connolly 1-3; Stocker 1-16.

Sacks: GA: Woodward. MP: McHugh, Deery.

Interceptions: GA: None. MP: Stocker.

EOF-

↧

Downingtown East holds off strong Spring-Ford rally

November 5, 2021, 8:37 pm

≫ Next: Chesco football previews: Shanahan goes for District 1 4A title; six other teams vie for semifinal berths

≪ Previous: Malvern Prep defense shuts down Germantown Academy

DOWNINGTOWN- At the beginning of Friday nights District 1 6A opening round playoff game between Downingtown East and Spring Ford, the fourth seeded Cougars looked like they were going to blow out the 13th seeded Rams. The Downingtown East running game behind Bo Horvath and Josh Asante were gashing the Rams defense and after 15 minutes of play the host Cougars held a 21-0 lead.

But, Spring-Ford decided to make it a game and what a game it was. Behind a superlative 364 yard passing night from Ryan Freed and a late fourth period blocked punt the rams had a chance to pull even with the Cougars the game’s final minute. But the cougars defense held fireman Freed’s fourth and seven pass sailed high and incomplete and the Cougars survived a very stiff challenge, 21-14. Downingtown East will now host undefeated Quakertown next Friday at 7 pm at Kottmeyer Stadium while the game Rams season is over.

Downingtown East (9-2) scored 14 first period points on two short runs from quarterback Jay Jenkins to take a 14-0 lead. Horvath and Asante did the leg work all night. Horvath finished with 170 yards on 36 caries while Asante chipped in with 85 yards.

“We were running all over them at the beginning of the game,” Horvath said. “But, then they started to stack the box and I know they picked up the intensity and we started to not get as many yards. But, we held on and won and now we go to next week.”

After Horvath capped a 65 yard Downingtown East drive early in the second period with a three yard plunge, the Cougars lead was 21-0 and it looked like Spring-Ford (6-5) was going to get blown off the field. The Cougars received a short field courtesy of a Sean Conlon fumble recovery in Rams territory.

But, the Rams passing game started to click and click it did. Freed was sensational for the Rams, completing 22 of 36 passes for 364 yards and two touchdowns. Receivers Payton West and Zach Zollers had big nights, with West hauling in a 54 yard touchdown pass to make it a 21-7 Downingtown East lead at halftime. Zollers hauled in nine basil for 147 yards and a fourth period touchdown pass.

“I just want to say that number 4 (Zach Zollers), made some incredible catches,’ Downingtown East head coach Mike Matta said. “And the QB was getting the ball out fast and he had a great game.”

The teams went scoreless in the third period with the Cougars running game seemingly held in check and a big Spring-Ford fumble inside the Cougars 20 yard line, killing a Rams drive. But a seven yard strike that was tipped, from Freed to Zollers in the corner of the end zone capped a 95 yard Spring-ford drive and the rams closed the gap to 21-14 with 5:27 to play in the fourth period.

“Ryan is five foot nothing and 100 some pounds nothing,” Spring-Ford head coach Chad Brubaker said. “But he knows the plays and makes great throws. we had our chances inside the 20’s but we could not get it in late. We came very close but not good enough.”

Downingtown East controlled the ball after the Rams fourth period touchdown but the drive stalled with 1:01 to play in the fourth period. The Cougars went into punt formation but the Rams Gage Swanger blocked the punt and the Rams had the ball at the Cougars 29 yard line.

Freed hit Zollers down to the seven yard line but that is as far as the Rams could get. Spring-Ford had to hurry because they were out of timeouts and when Freed’s fourth down pass sailed high and wide, all that was left was for the Cougars to take a knee and move on to next week.

“They really played a lot harder in the second half,’ Asante said. “And we lost a little bit of our momentum in the second half. They really started to crash down on the run but we got away with the wind that is all that matters.”

A relieved Matta talked about his team’s penchant for getting out to fast starts and then struggling in the second half.

“That has been us all season,” Matta said. “We let teams hang around and do not finish them off when we have the chance to. We need to play a whole game.”

Downingtown East 21, Spring-Ford 14.

Spring-Ford 0 7 0 7-14

Downingtown East 14 7 0 0-21

Scoring

D-Jenkins 1 run (Marks kick)

D-Jenkins 2 run (Marks kick)

Second Period

D-Horvath 3 run (Marks kick)

SF-West 54 pass from Creed (Herman kick)

Fourth Period

SF-Z.Zollers 7 pass from Creed (Herman kick)

Team Totals

SF D

First downs 20 23

Yards rushing 81 285

Yards passing 381 93

Total yards 462 378

Passing 25-46-0 6-13-0

Fumbles-lost 3-2 1-0

Punts-avg 4-32.0 4-36.5

Penalties-yds 11-65 2-13

individual Statistics

Rushing: SF: Kqira 1 (-5); M.Zollers 2-6; Freed 5 (-8); Adieyefeh 14-88. DE: Horvath 33-170, TDF; Asante 16-85; Jenkins 11-18, 2 TD’s.

Passing: SF: M.Zollers 3-10-17; Freed 22-36-364, 2Td’s. DE: Jenkins 6-13-93.

Receiving: SF” Z.Zollers 9-147, TD; Adieyefeh 2-8; Swanger 4-38; Kqira 4-88; West 6-110, TD. DE: Leo 2-30; rossetti 2-17; Giordino 2-46.

Sacks: SF: Owens, Z.Zollers 2. DE: Conlon, Barton.

EOF-

↧

Chesco football previews: Shanahan goes for District 1 4A title; six other teams vie for semifinal berths

November 11, 2021, 4:21 pm

≫ Next: Quakertown shuts down Downingtown East

≪ Previous: Downingtown East holds off strong Spring-Ford rally

The opening round of the District 1 playoffs saw six Ches-Mont league teams advance to the second round, all in search of a coveted district title.
Bishop Shanahan will be playing Pottsgrove tonight for the District 1 4A championship at Jack Mancini Field. Here is a look at all the district playoff action, along with Malvern Prep vying for the Inter-Ac League title.

Pottsgrove (8-2) at Bishop Shanahan (8-3)
Pottsgrove rolled over Upper Moreland while the Eagles handled Chichester 21-0 in the opening round. The visiting Falcons are a run-centric team with a big offensive line, but they do not throw the ball very well. This might play right to the strength of the Bishop Shanahan defense, which defends the run very well.
Shanahan linemen Dylan Jones, Kenny Daniels, Liam Blakely and linebacker Brandon Choi are all very good against the run. The Eagles’ offense is centered around senior quarterback Cooper Jordan, who can run and throw the football. He should make enough plays with his legs to down the Falcons.
Bishop Shanahan 28, Pottsgrove 14

Perkiomen Valley (9-2) at Coatesville (10-1)
This second-round matchup is a rematch of a thrilling Week 2 game when the Red Raiders roared back from a halftime deficit to take down the Vikings, 35-27. For Perkiomen Valley, senior quarterback Ethan Kohler has more than 1,300 yards passing and Perkiomen Valley has a fine set of receivers who can stretch the defense. Perkiomen Valley has scored more than 40 points five times this season and will test the Red Raiders’ defense. Kohler threw for five touchdowns in the Vikings’ first-round win over CB East.
But, Coatesville is starting to pound the ball with its running game, going over 300 yards in its last two games. The Red Raiders’ offensive line is very good and should give running back Ashon Wesley and quarterback Harrison Susi some lanes to run through. The Red Raiders seem to have too many guys that can hurt a defense. Both teams have not tasted defeat in awhile. The Vikings have won seven in a row, while Coatesville has captured eight straight.
Coatesville 31, Perkiomen Valley 21

Quakertown (11-0) at Downingtown East (9-2)
Quakertown is probably wondering how an 11-0 team is on the road going against a Downingtown East team that has two losses on the season, but that is the District 1 points system for you. The visiting Panthers have two impressive wins on the season, one over Souderton, 33-7, and the other being a 31-0 shutout of defending Class 5A champion Upper Dublin. Quakertown has scored over 40 points five times this season and are a very tough bunch on defense, surrendering just 11 points per game on average.
Downingtown East got a 170-yard rushing night from Bo Horvath in the Cougars’ 21-14 win over Spring-Ford. Horvath, along with banged up Josh Asante, are going to have to be the leaders for the Cougars, who will need its running attack to be at the top of its game to win this one. The Cougars’ offensive line played very well against Spring-Ford in the 21-14 opening-round win.
Downingtown East 24, Quakertown 21

Kennett (8-3) at West Chester Rustin (9-1)
This is a rematch of the Golden Knights’ 23-0 win over the Blue Demons during the regular season. The Rustin defense allowed the Blue Demons less than 150 yards of total offense in the win. Kennett downed Chester 31-28 in the opening round. Kalen Frazier and Julian Sparacino are going to have to move the ball on the ground to keep the Golden Knights’ offense off the field.
When the Knights are on the field, the Blue Demons are going to have to find a way to contain Dayshawn Jacobs, who has more than 1,900 yards rushing this season. The Rustin offensive line is one of the best, if not the best, in the 5A bracket and will be too much for the Blue Demons over four quarters.
West Chester Rustin 28, Kennett 14

Academy Park (8-2) at Unionville (10-1)
Academy Park has a bevy of playmakers, but the main man is wide receiver-defensive back Eric Willis. He is a threat to go the distance every time he touches the football. Willis had a pick-six in the opening round win over Oxford. In addition, Terrance Oliver is a battering ram of a running back who likes to run between the tackles. Oliver torched Oxford for 142 yards on just nine carries in Academy Park’s 40-15 win over Oxford.
Unionville has a very good defense and enough of an offense to keep Academy Park off the field. Longhorns quarterback Matt McCloskey is very good at his zone reads in the running attack, which features Brendan D’Amico, Ethan Bennink and Joe King, who are all solid rushers.
Unionville 21, Academy Park 20

Malvern Prep (7-2) at Springside Chestnut Hill (3-6)
The Friars are a perfect 4-0 in the Inter-Ac and can win the outright title with a win over Chestnut Hill. The Friars’ defense held a good Episcopal Academy team to just seven points in a win last week. Colton Deery, Ryan Davis and D’Angelo Stocker lead the way for a suffocating defense.
Malvern Prep 28, Springside Chestnut Hill 7

↧

Quakertown shuts down Downingtown East

November 12, 2021, 8:44 pm

≫ Next: Malvern Prep claims Inter-Ac title

≪ Previous: Chesco football previews: Shanahan goes for District 1 4A title; six other teams vie for semifinal berths

DOWNINGTOWN- Come district playoff time if a team takes its opponents bread and butter away it is going to be a long night for that team. Friday night at Kottmeyer Stadium in the second round of the District 1 6A playoffs, visiting Quakertown held the ground and pound hosts, Downingtown East to just 52 yards on the ground and the Panthers outscored the Cougars 14-0 in the second half to take home a 42-21 win. Quakertown will now head to Garnet Valley next week for the semifinal round while the Downingtown East season ends at 9-3. The Cougars average close to 210 yards rushing per game before Friday night.

“I was afraid they were going to be able to stop our running game,” Downingtown East head coach Mike Matta said. “But, they did a better job than I even thought they would do. We knew they were very good and they played up to that. They really beat us up, out played and out coached us tonight.”

The teams looked like they were going to set a stadium record for points early in the game as the two teams traded miscues that led to a 14-14 tie after one period. Quakertown (12-0) started the scoring when they blocked a Cougar punt and Brett Hileman fell on the ball in the end zone for an early 6-0 lead.

Downingtown East (9-3) came right back and Jamy Jenkins hit CJ Leo with a pretty 15 yard flatter in the corner of the end zone for a 7-6 Cougar lead. the, the Panthers made their mistake. quarterback Will Steich fumbled the ball and Sean Conlon scooped it and rambled 22 yards to give the Cougars a 14-6 edge. But, the Panthers got a 13 yard touchdown run from Tyler Woodman to knot things up at 14-14 after one period. Woodman carried the ball 31 times for 162 yards on the night.

“I like a lot of carries,’ Woodman said. “It really gets our offense going.”

The Panthers offense was purring now as Woodman was gaining yards between the tackles and Stretch hit John Eartherton with a pretty 37 yard pass to make it a 21-14 Quakertotwn lead early in the second period. Downingtown East came right back and went on a 67 yard scoring drive that culminated in a five yard touchdown catch by Louis Rossetti in the flat as Jenkins led his receiver perfectly and it was a 21-21 game.

Late in the second period, it appeared the Cougars had forced a punt but a personal foul penalty on the Cougars allowed the Panthers to keep the ball and go on a 87 yard scoring drive that resulted in a 24 yard touchdown pass from stench to Zach Fondl, who outfought a Cougar defender for the ball in the end zone and the Panthers had a 28-21 halftime lead.

The Quakertown defense then shut all doors and windows for the Cougars in the second half. The Panthers forced four second half Cougar punts and without a running game, Jenkins was under extreme pressure as the Panthers just pinned their ears back and went after the Cougars quarterback sacking him there times and hurrying many of Jenkins throws.

The Panthers running game then took over as they milked the clock with Woodman gaining first downs after first down. The Panthers had 22 first downs for the game compared to just 10 for Downingtown East. Woodman scored on runs of 12 and three yards in the second half for the 42-21 margin and the Cougars season was over.

“They just seemed to play harder than us in the second half,” Jenkins said. “And we could not run the ballad that was a surprise because that is what we do. And if you can’t run the ball nothing really works.”

Quakertown 42, Downingtown East 21.

Quakertown 14 14 7 7 -42

Downingtown East 14 7 0 0 -21

Scoring

Q-Hileman punt block recovery in end zone (Kick failed)

D- Leo 15 pass from Jenkins (Marks kick)

D-Conlon 22 fumble recovery (Marks kick)

Q-Woodman 13 pass from stench (Woodman run)

Second Period

Q-Eartehrton 37 pass from stench (Gaj kick)

D-Rossetti 5 pass from Jenkins (Marks kick)

Q-Fondl 24 pass from stench (Gaj kick)

Third Period

Q-Woodman 12 run (Gaj kick)

Fourth Period

Q-Woodman 3 run (Peacher kick)

Team Totals

Q D

First downs 22 10

Yards rushing 176 52

Yards passing 187 150

Total yards 363 202

Passing 9-18-0 12-23-0

Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-0

Punts-avg 1-37.0 6-28.5

Penalties-yds 8-74 6-48

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Q: Woodman 31-162, 2TD’s; Eartherton 10-25; Steich 3 (-11). DOWN: Horvath 7-23; Asante 7-17; Jenkins 12-12.

Passing: Q: Stench 8-17-130, 3TD’s; Woodman 1-1-47. DOWN: Jenkins 12-23-150, 2TD’s.

Receiving: Q: Fondl 5-75, TD; Roesener 1-11; Eartherton 2-47,TD; Woodman 2-44, TD. DOWN: Thelander 1-11; Asante 1-0; Leo 2-20, TD; Rossetti 1-5 TD; bousum 3-60; Giordino 3-27; DiLullo 1-27.

Sacks: Q: Retter, Harrison, Eure. DOWN: Barton 2.

EOF-

↧

Malvern Prep claims Inter-Ac title

November 14, 2021, 2:54 am

≫ Next: Coatesville storms past Ridley

≪ Previous: Quakertown shuts down Downingtown East

PHILADELPHIA- Neither wind or heavy rain could deter the Malvern Prep Friars from reaching their goal of winning an outright Inter-Academic League title. And Saturday afternoon at a cold and rainy Maxwell Field at Springtide Chestnut Hill, the Friars more than held up their end of the bargain by downing the host Blue Devils 14-0, to win the Inter-Academic League championship for the first time since 2018.

Malvern Prep (5-0 inter-Ac, 8-2 overall) got a sparkling rushing output from senior Isaiah Wright who carried the ball 47 times for 235 yards and scored both Friars touchdowns. Wright started things off in style as he carried the ball nine times on the opening drive of the game before scoring from seven yards out to give Malvern a 7-0 lead after the first seven minutes of the game.

“That is a lot of carries but I don’t mind,’ Wright said. “As long as we get there win I don’t care how many times I carry the ball. And to win this championship is an awesome feeling. This is for the guys who played last year and there was no league games and the guys in 2019. I have been at Malvern since the sixth grade and this is what we play for. to win the league title.”

After the first Friars touchdown, the vaunted Malvern Prep defense took over. Malvern Prep was averaging giving up less than nine points per game and the Blue Devils (0-5, 3-7) could muster next to nothing against the likes of Colton Deery, Ryan Davis and Bobby Meers. Chestnut Hill managed just 128 total yards of offense for the game and only 40 of those yards came on the ground. The Friars defense held the Blue devils to just six first downs.

With the weather getting worse after halftime, Malvern Prep went on another short scoring drive. This came after Davis picked off a Blue Devils pass at the blue Devils 22 yard line. three plays alter, Wright banged in from three yards out and it was a 14-0 Malvern Prep lead.

“Our defense has been stout all season,” Malvern Prep head coach Dave Gueriera said. “And today we had two goal line stands that we’re sensational. Our defense was so good this season we were actually surprised when we were scored on.”

Chestnut Hill severely tested the friars defense in the fourth period, twice getting within the 10 yard line before Malvern Prep closed the doors on the Blue Devils token the shutout intact. The first Blue Devils threat was stopped when Jaylyn Evans sacked the Blue Devils quarterback on a fourth and goal play from the four yard line. The second stop came when Marcus Crawford’s pass sailed high out of the end zone and the Friars punctuated its championship by pitching a shutout on a very bad day weather wise.

“We wanted to be run heavy today,” Gueriera said. “we wanted to use Isaiah a lot but we had to because you could not throw the ball in these conditions. This team deserves this championship because of how hard they have worked all season.”

Malvern Prep could only thew five passes for theme because of the extreme wind and quarterback Jack Capaldi said that was okay as long as Malvern Prep got the title.

“We really wanted to win this this season for all the guys that could not play for it last year.” Capaldi said. “This was our goal for a long time and we reached it today.”

Malvern Prep 14, Springside Chestnut Hill 0.

Malvern Prep 7 0 7 0-14

Springside Chestnut Hill 0 0 0 0-0

Scoring

M-Wright 7 run (Reid kick)

Third Period

M-Wright 3 run (Reid kick)

Team Totals

MP- SCH

First downs 14 6

Yards rushing 236 40

Yards passing 29 88

Total yards 265 128

Passing 2-5-0 10-26-1

Fumbles-lost 2-2 2-1

Punts-avg 4-32.5 5-27.0

Penalties-yds 3-35 4-25

Individual statistics

Rushing: MP: Wright 47-235, 2TD’s; Stocker 1 (-4); Evans 3-3; Capaldi 4-2. SCH: Crawford 6 (-5); Thorpe 3-12; Roberts 2-4; Colavito 12-29.

Passing: MP: Capaldi 2-5-29. SCH: Crawford 10-26-88.

Receiving: MP: Davis 1-18; Connolly 1-11. SCH: Thorpe 4-44; Shelinnsky 4-22; Regamn 1-12; Colavito 1-6.

Sacks: MP: Evans, law. SCH: None.

Interceptions: MP: Davis. SCH: None.

EOF-

↧

Coatesville storms past Ridley

November 19, 2021, 7:24 pm

≫ Next: WC Rustin falls short to Strath Haven 34-33 in double OT in District 1-5A championship

≪ Previous: Malvern Prep claims Inter-Ac title

CALN – Host Coatesville scored the first 37 points of the game then cruised to a 50-14 rout of Ridley in a District 1 Class 6A semifinal game Friday night.

The third-seeded Red Raiders thus advanced to the district title game next Friday against top-seeded Garnet Valley, a 58-37 winner over Quakertown.

Coatesville (12-1) jetted out to a 37-0 lead at halftime, running the ball at will against the Green Raiders (11-2). Ashon Wesley had 104 yards rushing and quarterback Harrison Susi totaled 143 yards on the ground and Bryan Lacey chipped in with 107 yards rushing. Coatesville ended the night with 390 yards rushing and 510 total yards.

“I think we have the best (offensive) line in the entire state,” Coatesville receiver Tommy Ortega said. “We just imposed our will on them and it worked out. Our linemen work really hard at what they do. We did not throw the ball much because we ran so well but I will take less catches to get a win like this anytime. This is a great feeling right now.”

The Red Raiders got two first period touchdown runs from Wesley to make it a 14-0 game after one quarter. Wesley scored on runs of 26 and one yard and it was clear early that the Ridley defense wasn’t up to the tall task of holding down the potent Coatesville attack.

The Ridley offense could not generate any first downs in the first half and the Coatesville defense, led by Nolan O’Hara and RJ Rickabaugh, held Ridley star running back Tahir Mills to just 83 yards on 26 carries on the night. Mills was met by a caravan of Red Raiders defenders every time he touched the ball.

“We had a really great week of practice,’ O’Hara said. “We knew our assignments and we played hard and fast and our coaches had us in the right spots. It feels great to go and play Garnet Valley and we will have to have another great week of practice and play hard for four quarters.”

Coatesville effectively put the game away in the second period, scoring 23 unanswered points to take a 37-0 lead at halftime and putting the entire second half into the mercy rule. Susi scored on a 31-yard run untouched right up the middle of the Ridley defense and then after a Ridley punt, Susi hit James Taylor, who was wide open, for a 58-yard touchdown pass late in the second period.

Coatesville was not done however. The Red Raiders forced a Ridley punt and took over at their own 43 with less than two minutes to go in the first half. No problem for the Red Raiders, as seven plays later Lacey bounced in from two yards out.

“We just had a real bad first half tonight,’ Ridley quarterback John Heller said. “They just jumped on us and we could not get anything going. Give props to them. They are a great football team.”

The second half saw Coatesville head coach Matt Ortega empty his bench on both sides of the ball and the Green Raiders scored 14 points, one on an 11-yard touchdown run by Mills, and then Heller hit Nahij Saleen with a 72-yard touchdown pass for the final points.

But the Red Raiders were already thinking about next week.

“We know them and they know us and they are a great team,” Ortega said of the Jaguars. “But we will get ready and go down there and try to win a district title. It should be a great game.”

Coatesville 50, Ridley 14.

Ridley 0 0 7 7-14

Coatesville 14 23 7 6-50

Scoring

C-Wesley 26 run (Ashbee kick)

C-Wesley 1 run (Ashbee kick)

Second Period

C-Safety

C-Susi 31 run (Ashbee kick)

C-Taylor 58 pass from Susi (Ashbee kick)

C-Lacey 2 run (Ashbee kick)

Third Period

C-Ortega 12 pass from Susi (Ashbee kick)

R-Mills 11 run (Valpone kick)

Fourth Period

RSaleen 72 pass from Heller (Valpone kick)

C-Watson 1 run (run failed)

Team Totals

R C

First downs 8 21

Yards rushing 75 390

yards passing 151 124

Total yards 226 510

Passing 6-15-1 7-11-0

Fumbles-lost 1-0 0-0

Punts-avg 4-27.5 2-34.0

Penalties-yds 6-55 7-80

Individual Statistics

Rushing: RID: Mills 26-83, TD; Heller 2 (-9); Gerace 1-1. COAT: Wesley 12-104, 2TD’s; Susi 10-143, TD; Lacey 10-107, TD; Watson 8-36, TD; Miles 2-0.

Passing: RID: Heller 6-15-151, TD. COAT: Susi 6-9-98, 2TD’s; Galarza 1-2-26.

Receiving; RID: Mills 3-10; Powell 1-45; Saleen 1-72, TD; Odoovan 1-16; Varney 1-8. COAT: Ortega 2-18, TD; Bessick 1-8; molina 1-4, Taylor 1-58, TD; Hutch 1-26.

Interceptions: RID: None. COAT: Homnack.

Sacks: RID: None. COAT: O’Hara.

EOF-

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WC Rustin falls short to Strath Haven 34-33 in double OT in District 1-5A championship

November 26, 2021, 7:56 pm

≫ Next: Lunardi resigns as head coach at West Chester Henderson

≪ Previous: Coatesville storms past Ridley

WESTTOWN >> Sometimes wanting something with every fiber of your body and playing like your life depended on it does not get it done.

A valiant effort by the West Chester Rustin football team fell short Friday night as visiting Strath Haven quarterback Sam Milligan rolled right and got into the end zone for a successful two-point conversion for a thrilling 34-33 double-overtime victory to capture the District 1 Class 5A title.

West Chester Rustin (11-2) looked like it had the game won in regulation when Dayshawn Jacobs capped off a six-minute fourth period drive with a two-yard run to make it a 19-19 game with 16 seconds left in the fourth period. The Panthers (13-1) then jumped offside twice on the extra point try with the ball going through the uprights twice successfully. But, the referees blew both plays dead and on the third attempt the snap was bobbled and the game was tied 19-19 at the end of four periods.

Rustin running back Dayshawn Jacobs runs in the first quarter of the District 1 5A District title gam. (PETE BANNAN – MNG)

“The first offside was accidental but the second one was intentional,” West Chester Rustin head coach Mike St. Clair said. “And the refs should have done the right thing and swallowed the whistle. It was a bush league thing to do and our kids deserved better tonight.”

Both teams ran their Wing T offense to perfection as the Panthers got out to a 19-13 lead after three periods after taking a 13-6 halftime advantage. But the Golden Knights, behind Jacobs, who rushed for 190 yards and three touchdowns, methodically ran the ball down the field in the fourth period behind their big offensive line. With a 4th-and-3 at the Panthers’ 21-yard line, Rustin quarterback Kolbe Freney hit Mike Lighthill with a perfect pass down to the Strath Haven 5. Two plays later Jacobs cracked over from the left side and it was a 19-19 game with 16 seconds to play and the extra point drama began and the teams went to overtime tied at 19-19.

In overtime with both teams’ possessions beginning at the 10, Strath Haven got the ball first and scored on its first play as Milligan hurdled the left side for a 26-19 Panther lead after the extra point kick. On the Golden Knights first play, Jacobs scored from 10 yards out and the Golden Knights called timeout to go for the two-point conversion. But a false start call on Rustin forced them to kick the extra point and after one overtime it was a 26-26 game.

“Losing like this really hurts but I will have a bond with these guys the rest of my life,” Freney said. “And we did not get some calls tonight but we left it all out on the field and that is all you can ask.”

Now, double overtime began and the Golden Knights again scored on their first play as Jacobs juked his way for a 10-yard touchdown and it was a 33-26 West Chester Rustin lead after the extra point. Strath Haven worked the ball to the Golden Knights’ 1 on three running plays, setting up a 4th-and-goal at the 1-yard line. Chase Barlow, who led the Panthers with 110 yard rushing, cracked over the right side and barely got in the end zone and now it was decision time for Strath Haven.

Rustin quarterback Kolbe Freney is caught behind the line by Strath Haven by (68) Ben Farbaugh and (84) Mason Green in the first quarter of the District 1 5A District title gam. (PETE BANNAN -DAILY LOCAL)

After a Panthers time out, Milligan took the snap and rolled to his right and looked like he wanted to pass the football. But, Milligan pulled the ball down and made a mad dash for the right corner of the end zone, barely getting in and the Panthers had a pulsating 34-33, win and a District 1 5A championship and a date with the winner of the Erie Cathedral Prep against Imhotep Charter game Saturday, while the Golden Knights season ends in bitter fashion.

“You have regrets whenever you lose a game,” Jacobs said. “And tonight we did not get many calls but I don’t want to make excuses. I am real proud of this senior class. When we were freshmen we went 0-8 and did not win a game and now as seniors we are in the district championship. It took lot of hard work to get here.”

Strath-Haven 34, West Chester Rustin 33, 2OT

Strath-Haven 7 6 6 0 7 8-34
WC Rustin 0 6 7 6 7 7-33

Scoring

First Period
SH-Barlow 4 run (Shankweiler kick)
Second Period
SH-Barlow 2 run (kick failed)
R-Daimon Jacobs 2 run (kick failed)
Third Period
SH-Milligan 4 run (kick failed)
R-Dayshawn Jacobs 38 run (Strunk kick)
Fourth Period
R-Dayshawn Jacobs 2 run (kick failed)
Overtime
SH-Milligan 10 run (Shankweiler kick)
R-Dayshawn Jacobs 10 run (Strunk kick)
Double overtime
R-Dayshwan Jacobs 10 run (Strunk kick)
SH-Barlow 1 run (Milligan run)

Team Statistics

SH R
First downs 16 12
Yards rushing 313 241
Yards passing 9 24
Total yards 322 265
Passing 1-2-0 2-2-0
Fumbles-lost 0-0 3-1
Punts-avg 2-36.5 1-33.0
Penalties-yds 5-28 2-10

Individual Statistics

Rushing: SH: Shuler 5-90; Barlow 23-110, 3TD’s; Crawford 14-60; Milligan 9-50, 2Td’s; Connor 1-3. WCR: Dayshawn Jacobs 35-190, 4 TD’s; Daimon jacobs 4-25, TD; Yanko 1-3; Meadows 2-8; Santangelo 1-9; Freney 3 (-4).

Passing: SH: Milligan 1-2-9. WCR: Freney 2-2-24.

Receiving: SH: Sutherland 1-9. WCR: Santangelo 1-6; Lighthill 1-18.

Sacks: SH: Green. WCR: None.

↧

Lunardi resigns as head coach at West Chester Henderson

December 2, 2021, 10:44 am

≫ Next: Bishop Shanahan football squad enjoyed memorable season

≪ Previous: WC Rustin falls short to Strath Haven 34-33 in double OT in District 1-5A championship

WEST CHESTER >> The West Chester Henderson football program is looking for a new head coach.

John Lunardi, the three year head coach for the Warriors, resigned his position on Thursday citing family considerations for his decision. Henderson finished 4-7 this fall and advanced to the first round of the District 1 5A playoffs before bowing out to Upper Dublin.

In a letter to the football parents, Lunardi explained his reasons for stepping down.

“My wife and I are expecting our third child and I will be unable to give both my family and the football program the attention and commitment they both deserve,” Lunardi said. “It would be unfair to the program and my family to continue as head coach.”

Lunardi stepped in three years ago when former head coach Stefan Adams resigned just two weeks before the start of the 2018 summer practice time. It was just four weeks before the start of the regular season.

“John stepped in at a tough time when Stefan left and did a great job for us in his three years as head coach here,” Henderson Athletic Director Ken McCormick said. “He got the program pointed in the right direction and we will miss him.”

↧

Bishop Shanahan football squad enjoyed memorable season

December 3, 2021, 9:20 pm

≪ Previous: Lunardi resigns as head coach at West Chester Henderson

The Bishop Shanahan offensive coordinator talks to the Eagles offense Friday. (Bill Rudick/Daily Local News)

Bishop Shanahan head coach Paul Meyers and quarterback Cooper Jordan watch the action Friday. (Bill Rudick/Daily Local News)

Bishop Shanahan cheerleaders providing spirit during Friday’s contest against Bishop McDevitt (Bill Rudick/Daily Local News)

Bishop Shanahan’s Brandon Choi scores a touchdown against Bishop McDevitt Friday in the PIAA 4A Eastern final. (Bill Rudick/Daily Local News)

CALN >> Dreams die hard on the football field sometimes. Friday night in the the PIAA 4A Eastern Final, Bishop Shanahan came up three yards short on a 4th-and-10 play with less than one minute left, and the Eagles season ended with a crushing 28-21 loss to Bishop McDevitt of Harrisburg.
But the 2021 Bishop Shanahan football team, which featured 28 seniors, made history this fall. Besides winning the PIAA District 1 4A championship, this senior-dominated squad earned its first-ever PIAA state playoff win in school history and finished with the most wins of any Bishop Shanahan team. The Eagles defeated District 12 champion Bonner-Prendergast and District 2 champ Valley View in the PIAA state playoffs.
“Two years ago we went up to Jersey Shore and lost a state playoff game,” said Shanahan’s all state linebacker Brandon Choi. “We decided right then that our goal was to win a state championship and we gave it everything we had to try to get it done. We are a brotherhood and we do things together and these guys will be my friends for life. We had a great run in our our years at Bishop Shanahan and it is tough to see it end. We got the first state playoff win in school history this year, and we wanted to do it for ourselves, the coaches, the fans and everyone at the school. These guys are my brothers for life now.”
Shanahan senior quarterback Cooper Jordan threw for more than 2,000 yards and ran for more than 1,000 yards this season and was instrumental in the Eagles sustained success, as he was a three year starter like so many of his senior mates.
“This is a family feel with all these guys,” Jordan said. “We wanted to get to the state championship game and win it but we came up a little short. But, these guys are my brothers for life and this is a strong brotherhood. We decided when we were sophomores that we wanted to build this program brick by brick, and I feel we did that and we have a lot to be proud of.”
The Bishop Shanahan run defense was the best in the area this season with Kenny Daniels, Charles Adams, Liam Blakely and Dylan Jones up front. In the loss to McDevitt, Jones, one of those 28 seniors, was huge as he harassed Crusaders quarterback Stone Saunders all night and was big in run defense.
“This really hurts right now,” Jones said. “But, this is the best bunch of guys you could ever hope to be around. We really all played for each other and we were a family on and off the field. This is just a great group of friends and we will stay close forever.”
Bishop Shanahan head coach Paul Meyers, who saw this senior class come through for four years, felt that this could be a group to remember when they were freshmen.
“This was just a special group,” Meyers said. “They were undefeated as freshman, going 8-0. Then as sophomores they won the first District 1 title in school history and went to the first state playoff game. As juniors last year they went undefeated at 4-0 and then COVID shut us down and I felt we could have done damage last year. This year as seniors they won another district title and won two state playoff games.
“The seniors were like coaches off the field for us. They did all the things we coaches don’t have time to clean up sometimes. They took care of all the little potential problems. They really were an extension of the coaching staff and a real special group that made history for the school.”

↧

Strath-Haven 34, West Chester Rustin 33, 2OT

Scoring

Team Statistics

Individual Statistics

Latest Images