Tonight at Kottmeyer Stadium, the Downingtown East Cougars had their final tune up in preparation for their Ches-Mont League National Division non league slate. This came in the form of their mandatory cross over game against the Indians of Unionville.
Downingtown East played nearly a complete game in a 49-13 shellacking of Unionville. This game had touchdowns in all three facets of the game- offense, defense, and special teams. Of the game’s nine touchdowns four came on offense, three on special teams, and two on defense. Two of the three special teams touchdowns were scored by Unionville tonight.
The game started off poorly for Unionville, as the Indians found themselves in a 14-0 hole less than two minutes into the game. Kameron Hammond-Green returned the opening kickoff 88 yards for Downingtown East’s first score. Following a three and out by Unionville, it took Downingtown East two plays to score again, when Saunders Healy hit his tight end Cary Angeline for a 46 yard touchdown pass.
Unionville did catch a break on special teams later in the first frame, as Indians’ sophomore defensive back Joe Zubillaga recovered an errant snap in the end zone, to cut the lead in half at 14-7. When one thought that Unionville seized momentum after the score, Downingtown East forcefully took it back in the second quarter. A Jack Kincade one-yard run put Downingtown East up 21-7, and a one-yard quarterback sneak by Saunders Healy on fourth and goal put the Cougars up 28-7 at halftime.
The saying “when it rains, it pours” held true for Unionville tonight. On their first possession of the second half, Downingtown East’s defensive back Jeremy Jennings successfully jumped a route, intercepting a Jason Hagen pass and returning it 53 yards for the first of his two pick sixes on the night.
Fortunately for Unionville, the 35-7 hole was short lived, as Elan Nash took a Drew Brennan kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown to get the Indians back to 35-13. The fact that one of Brennan’s kickoffs was even returned is a rarity in and of itself, as he leads the county in touchbacks with a minimum of eight on the season.
Unfortunately for Unionville, 35-13 was as close as they would get on this night. Jack Kincade scored his second touchdown (four yards) to put Downingtown East up 42-13, and Jeremy Jennings’ second pick six (73 yards) with 2:23 left in the game, put the Cougars up 49-13, and invoked the mercy rule at that point.
After the game, Unionville coach Pat Clark stated, “Downingtown East hit big plays in all phases of the game, opening kickoff, two pick sixes, the 46 yard touchdown pass. They’re a good team, and well coached.”
Downingtown East coach Mike Matta was pleased with his team’s effort, “It was a total team effort tonight. We did a good job picking each other up. Defensive Coordinator Omar Montalvo put together a great game plan. That opening kickoff set a tone early.”
Up next for Downingtown East (5-0, 1-0) is Ches-Mont National Division opponent West Chester Henderson. Unionville (3-2, 1-0 Ches-Mont American) plays Oxford next week.
SCORE SUMMARY/STATS
DEHS- 14-14-7-14-49
UHS – 7- 0- 6- 0- 13
DE- Kameron Hammond-Green 88 yard kickoff return (Brennan kick)
DE- Cary Angeline 46 yard pass from Saunders Healy (Brennan kick)
U- Joe Zubillaga recovered snap in end zone (Barrett kick)
DE- Jack Kincade 1 yard run (Brennan kick)
DE- Healy 1 run (Brennan kick)
DE- Jeremy Jennings 53 yard interception return (Brennan kick)
U- Elan Nash 90 yard kickoff return (kick failed)
DE- Kincade 4 yard run (Brennan kick)
DE- Jennings 73 yard interception return (Brennan kick)
First Downs-
Downingtown East- 12
Unionville- 9
Penalties-Yards
Downingtown East- 9 (86 yards)
Unionville- 6 (60 yards)
Fumbles-Lost
Downingtown East- 3 (0 lost)
Unionville- NONE
Punts-Yards
Downingtown East- 2 (18 yard avg)
Unionville- 6 (33.2 average)
Passing-
Downingtown East- Saunders Healy 7-11-181 yards-1 td
Unionville- Brendan Boyle 7-16-92 yards, Joe Hagen 0-6-2 interceptions. TOTAL 7-22-92 yards-2 interceptions
Rushing-
Downingtown East- Healy 9-27 (td), Kincade 24-77 (2tds), Hanford 1-2. TOTAL 34-106
Unionville- Boyle 17-2, Boon 11-1, Hagen 2-(minus 6), Dante Graham 6-31. TOTAL 36-28
Receiving-
Downingtown East- Angeline 4-96 (td), Hanford 1-50, Hammond-Green 1-9, Hahn 1-26
Unionville- Tyler Marmo 2-33, Boon 1-(minus 4), Nash 1-11, Clark 3-52
TOTAL YARDS
Downingtown East- 287
Unionville- 120
