Each year, it seems, the Ches-Mont League has a team or two that, on paper, has the makings for a potential playoff push. Downingtown East, this year, appears to be that team. When District 1 began a playoff bracket in 1992, the Ches-Mont claimed three of the first five district crowns and twice reached the PIAA championship game (Downingtown, then unified, in 1994 and ’96). Since Downingtown split before the start of the 2003 season to East and West, the Cougars have posted six seasons of eight wins or more and won 28 of its 73 games in the last three seasons, finishing no worse than 9-3 since 2009.
Kyle Lauletta returns after thrown for 1,971 yards and 23 touchdowns, now-junior Ryley Angeline has the keys to the feature back position after filling in for Drew Harris after the career 4,900-yard rusher was injured last year. Jay Harris, a Michigan State recruit, is the team’s featured receiver, and leading tackler Nelson Lee Lucas-Murphy, a Robert Morris recruit, anchors a linebacker slot. The 2008 edition of Bayard Rustin is the only Ches-Mont team to bring the league a district title since 1997, doing so in Class AAA.
