Tonight in the opening round of the District 1 4A playoffs, history did not repeat itself. Three years ago, the Downingtown East Cougars went 10-0, had the top seed in districts and were upset by a Suburban One school in Wissahickon. This year the script was flipped, as the top seeded Cougars grinded out a 35-28 win over the Colonials from Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School.
It did not come easy for Downingtown East, as they found themselves in an early 21-7 halftime hole. Plymouth Whitemarsh was able to gash the Cougars on multiple big runs by Nafeese Nasir out of the wildcat early on. Nasir scored on a 41-yard run on his third carry of the game from five yards out following a fumbled kickoff by Downingtown East.
Downingtown East cut the lead to 14-7 on a Saunders Healy eight-yard pass to Cary Angeline, but Joe Stoberl scored on a one-yard run to get the lead back to 14.
From here the floodgates opened and swallowed up the Colonials from Plymouth Whitemarsh. A poor punt following a three and out gave Downingtown East the ball well into plus territory. Healy found Angeline again to cut the lead to 21-14. An interception by Cougar defensive back Jeremy Jennings gave the Cougars the ball again.They were able to tie it up at 21-21, when Saunders Healy hit Noah Hahn from 31 yards out.
Plymouth Whitemarsh successfully answered the Downingtown East touchdown drives with an 80 yard scoring drive of their own, when Nafeese Nasir hit Luke Mascio from nine yards out. From there, Downingtown East was able to tie the game again, when Healy connected with Noah Hahn again (12 yards) and Cary Angeline for the third time from 45 yards out.
Saunders Healy threw for over 180 yards and five touchdowns for Downingtown East tonight. Cary Angeline had three catches for 61 yards (three touchdowns). Noah Hahn had 71 yards and two touchdowns (three catches). Naseer Nafise ran for over 200 yards and accounted for three of Plymouth-Whitemarsh’s four touchdowns.
Up next for Downingtown East (11-0) is a rematch from week three with North Penn (9-2), which was won by Downingtown East, 28-24.
SCORING SUMMARY-
Downingtown East 00-7-14-14-35
Plymouth Whitemarsh 14-7- 7- 00-28
PW- Nafeese Nasir 41 run (Zygmunt kick)
PW- Nasir 5 run (Zygmunt kick)
DE- Cary Angeline 8 pass from Healy (Brennan kick)
PW- Storbel 1 run (Zygmunt kick)
DE- Angeline 8 pass from Healy (Brennan kick)
DE- Hahn 31 pass from Healy (Brennan kick)
PW- Mascio 9 pass from Nasir (Zygmunt kick)
DE- Hahn 12 pass from Healy (Brennan kick)
DE- Angeline 45 pass from Healy (Brennan kick)
