What a difference a year makes. The last 3 years that former coach Mike Choi ran the Great Valley High School football program, the Patriots went 19-14 (2011- 5-6, 2012- 6-5, 2013- 8-3). Before the 2013-14 school year ended, Choi left for Pequea Valley in District 3, and Dan Ellis left West Chester East to take the Great Valley job.
A 12-2 season later, which included a defeat of previously undefeated Springfield (Delco) High School in the District 1 AAA title game, victories of 2 Ches-Mont League national division schools in Downingtown West and Bishop Shanahan during their march to glory made my decision easy. Dan Ellis is my choice for Chester County coach of the year.
It took all of one year to turn the attitude of the Patriots into one of a serious winning mentality. Case in point- after giving up 34 points in the second half of a 54-13 loss to West Chester Rustin (their only regular season loss, and cost them the American Division title), they turned around and defeated Downingtown West 41-35 in overtime on a short week (Saturday game-Thursday game) of practice. That attitude, combined with senior leadership by Ryan Buchholz and Nasir Adderley took the Patriots far.
Unfortunately, their season came to an end at the hands of powerhouse Archbishop Wood. The case of the public school going up against the parochial powerhouse.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR- Dwayne “Terry” Loper (WC Rustin)
All County-
QB- Tim Miller (Junior- Conestoga)
RB- Dwayne “Terry” Loper (Senior- WC Rustin)
RB- Tre Green (Senior- WC Henderson)
WR- Martin Dorsey (Senior- Conestoga)
WR- Pat Downey (Senior- WC East)
TE- Cary Angeline (Junior- Downingtown East)
OL- Doug Costin (Junior- Bishop Shanahan)
OL- Bryan White (Senior- WC Henderson)
OL- Caleb Fell (Senior- Downingtown East)
OL- Ray Bordley (Senior- WC Rustin)
OL- Phil Vecchioli (Senior- WC Rustin)
Kicker/Punter- Alex Pechin (Senior- Unionville)
One Response
I didn’t get the opportunity to see Oxford play this year. Considering that I’m in Downingtown, it’s a haul down there.
Only teams in that side I saw (Great Valley- vs Phoenixville & Downingtown West, Rustin- vs Unionville & Upper Dublin, Unionville- vs Octorara, Henderson, and Rustin).