Anthony Leonardi with the District 1 trophy
WARRINGTON, PA — The iconic sound of Frank Sinatra’s I Did It My Way boomed in the background of the Central Bucks South locker room as Anthony Leonardi waded through a parade of hugs and back slaps.
Led by the brilliant senior tailback, the Titans pulled off something not many in District 1 Class 6A thought possible in late August. Though here they were, Leonardi and his guys enjoying something that will resonate like their theme song playing in the background as CB South’s first-ever District 1 champion in football after a 27-7 victory over No. 6 seed Downingtown West on Friday night.
The Titans, the No. 5 seed, will now advance for the first time in the 19-year history of CB South to the PIAA Class 6A state semifinals where they will play the winner of defending state champion St. Joe’s Prep and District 11 champion Nazareth next week at a site and time to be determined.
It was Leonardi’s 79-yard fourth-quarter touchdown run that had broken open what had been a close game, and Corey Moore’s one-yard score was the final nail.
It’s the first CB South team to reach the District 1 championship in football, and now the first to be district champions. Prior to this year, the Titans (13-1) never got beyond the second round of the district playoffs.
Leonardi finished with a game-high 162 yards rushing on 15 carries, however, no run was more important possibly in his impressive high school career than the 79-yard burst through the middle of the field where he went practically untouched.
“I have no words to express how I’m feeling,” Leonardi said. “If you asked me this summer whether or not we would be district champs, I’m sure not what the answer would have been. We knew we would work hard and slowly but surely, we got better and better.
“We were aware of the history. We know we are the first CB South team to win the championship. We play Sinatra’s I Did It My Way after we win each home game.”
It works.
Like Leonardi’s offensive line of right tackle Collin Goetter, right guard Rolan Hess, center Nick Conte, left guard Nick Micewski, left tackle Keiran Padgett, and tight end Jake Menaker. That group paved the way to the district championship, along with the stellar defensive play of junior linebacker Jim Wade, playing with a cast on his arm, and defensive back Danny Gies, whose two fourth-quarter interceptions shut down any hopes of a late Downingtown West comeback.
“We felt pretty good at halftime in our ability to come out and continue to play good defense and get the running game going a little better,” Titans’ coach Tom Hetrick said. “That (79-yard) run with Anthony Leonardi was absolutely a backbreaker. It opened up and my O-line has played great all year long. My gosh, what a game, what a journey.
“After the Week 9 loss to CB West, we all sat in a room and said, if we continue to play our cards right and obsess over the next opponent, and the next opponent, we could put ourselves in a position to have that rematch with CB West (which CB South beat to reach the district finals). We were greatly looking to put ourselves in that position. We kept getting better. Our confidence continued to grow. I’m not surprised we made it here, and not surprised we won it.”
It looked as if CB South would take off with a 13-0 lead with 1:55 left in the half. Downingtown West (11-3) lost three fumbles over the first two quarters, the last of which led to Leonardi’s 18-yard touchdown run.
“We just didn’t play very well,” Whippets’ coach Mike Milano said. “We turned it over a couple of times and in the end, they are a really good football team. They didn’t make mistakes and we did.”
The Whippets took advantage of a short field after the Leonardi score and put their lone TD on the board on the last play of the half, when Quinn Henicle hit Dean Hangey with a 21-yard pass cutting through the middle of the end zone.
The Downingtown West scoring drive was helped along by a personal foul call at the CB South 21.
After some clock confusion was straightened out, Henicle spotted Hangey crossing through the end zone to place the Whippets within a score of CB South at the half, 13-7.
The Titans started the game with an impressive 15-play drive. CB South took the opening kickoff and went 85 yards, helped along by Leonardi’s 23-yard run. The Titans sheered off 8 minutes, 20 seconds before Titans’ quarterback Owen Pinkerton slipped into the end zone from three yards out and an early 7-0 lead.
The Titans never relinquished the lead.
“We made history, we’re part of something no one can take away from us,” Hetrick said. “I’ve been coaching for 30 years and I’ve been a part of a lot of good football programs, but this is the single most special moment in my 30-year career. No one can take this from these kids and we live to fight the next day. We realize what is out there next week (Prep), but we’re looking for a chance to hang out next week and prepare for the next war.”
Scoring Summary
Downingtown West (11-3) 0 7 0 0-7
Central Bucks South (13-1) 7 6 0 14-27
1st Quarter
CBS – Owen Pinkerton 3 run (Brendan Hazell kick), 3:40
2nd Quarter
CBS – Anthony Leonardi 18 run (Hazell kick), 1:55
DW – Dean Hangey 21 pass from Quinn Henicle (Ben Mehan kick), :00
4th Quarter
CBS – Leonardi 79 run (Corey Moore run), 9:00
CBS – Moore 1 run (kick failed), 5:32
Joseph Santoliquito is a hall-of-fame, award-winning sportswriter who has been covering high school football since 1992 and is the president of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be followed on Twitter @JSantoliquito. Follow EasternPAFootball.com on Twitter @EPAFootball.
