In a rare Saturday night Ches-Mont National Division game, the Cougars of Downingtown East downed the Bishop Shanahan Eagles by a score of 34-2. Tonight’s game was uncharacteristically played in sloppy spurts by both teams.
They combined for four turnovers and some very uncharacteristic chippy play to the tune of 20 accepted penalties, 9 of which were personal fouls. The Downingtown East defense continued their outstanding play, as they held a potent Shanahan offense to no points. This is the second week in a row the Cougars’ defense has not given up points.
The way the game started, most thought the mercy rule would come into play at some point. Downingtown East’s offense looked very crisp, piling up 28 points in the first frame. The first of four touchdowns came when Saunders Healy scampered 30 yards on a draw play.
Following a Jake Guinan fumble on the Shanahan 15 yard line, it took the Cougars two plays to double their lead to 14-0, when Healy hit Cary Angeline on a nine yard scoring play.
From there, the Downingtown East scoring deluge continued. Jack Kincade scored from three yards out to make it 21-0. Saunders Healy hit Ethan Harris on a 19 yard pass to make it 28-0. Downingtown East squandered a huge opportunity to go up five scores in the second frame, when Healy threw an interception in the end zone.
Shanahan was able to drive down the field. A missed opportunity of their own led to their only score on the night. That score came on a safety two plays after a blocked field goal. A Saunders Healy pass to Ethan Harris (50 yards) closed out the scoring on the night.
Tonight’s game did have a little bit of controversy as well, as Bishop Shanahan had what should have been a touchdown nullified by a questionable call by the referees. Bishop Shanahan quarterback Nick Skulski hit a receiver on a slant pattern who looked to catch the ball in the end zone, got pushed out and had the ball stripped. The play was ruled a fumble, and recovered by Downingtown East in the end zone for a touchback.
Downingtown East improved their record to 8-0 (4-0 league), and plays at West Chester East next Friday. Bishop Shanahan falls to 4-4 (2-2 league), and hosts Coatesville next week.
After the game, Downingtown East coach Mike Matta stated, ”Well done is always better than well said. Our defense pitched a de facto shutout tonight.” Shanahan coach Paul Meyers added, “They (Downingtown East) are a very good football team, and will go far in the playoffs. We did not play well at all, never found a rhythm on offense. They are far bigger than we are, and they wore us out.”
DE 28-0-6-0- 34
BSHS 0-2-0-0- 2
DE- Saunders Healy 30 run (Brennan kick)
DE- Cary Angeline 9 pass from Healy (Brennan kick)
DE- Jack Kincade 3 run (Brennan kick)
DE- Ethan Harris 19 pass from Healy (Brennan kick)
BS- Safety
DE- Harris 50 pass from Healy (conversion failed)
BS DE
First Downs 10 24
Penalties-Yards 8-85 12-122
Fumbles-Lost 3-3 NONE
Punts-Average 6-25.7 2-37.5
Rush-Yards 26-67 48-276
Comp-Att-Int 10-23-0 12-20-1
Yards Passing 135 172
Total Yards 202 448
Passing-
Downingtown East- Healy 12-20-172 yards-3 TD-1int
Bishop Shanahan- Skulski 10-23-135 yards
Receiving-
Downingtown East- Angeline 2-25-td, E Harris 5-94-2tds, Hanford 4-28, Jennings 1-28
Bishop Shanahan- Guinan 1-17, Burke 1-(minus 6), Neuhaus 4-74, McNulty 2-44, Guierera 1-7
Rushing-
Downingtown East- Healy 17-122, Kincade 20-106-td, Liauditis 6-26, Aivado 5-22
Bishop Shanahan- Skulski 2-4, Guinan 12-28, Burke 7-32, McNulty 1-(minus 4), Smyth 2-10, Dearing 2-(minus 3)
