They have played each other 107 previous times since 1913, sometimes twice a year to fill out the schedule. No, I’m not talking about Easton–Phillipsburg. I’m talking about those Route 30 neighbors seperated by about 5 miles, Coatesville–Downingtown West.
Downingtown West scored 3 touchdowns in over a 5 minute span to stun Coatesville 28-24 before a packed house at Kottmeyer Stadium in Downingtown Friday nite and all but secured a top 4 seed in the District 1 AAAA Playoffs.
Trailing 21-7 Michael Goodrich hauled in a 9 yard pass from Bret Gillespie with 1:25 left before halftime to cut the Red Raider lead to 21-14. On the second play following the kickoff Coatesville’s Kenny Wylie fumbled the football on his 39. The Whippets needed 1 play from there to score and it was a beauty. A direct snap to running back Jared Heller, who flipped to Evan Trexler, who tossed back to Gillespie who saw Goodrich steaking down the left sideline toward the end zone. Gillespie fired the ball and it looked like Coatesville’s Pat Brewer was going to knock the football away, but he knocked it right into Goodrich’s hands for the 39 yard touchdown with 35 seconds left before halftime to knot the score at 21. Gillespie was 14-19 for 168 yards and the 2 touchdown passes. Goodrich had 5 of the catches for 113 yards.
“It’s called keeping you’re eye on the ball” said Goodrich of his incredible catch.
“That flea-flicker really gave us a ton of energy,” said Whippet coach Mike Milano. “Going in tied at 21, hey, we’re playing on house money,” He added.
The third touchdown in this span came on the first drive of the third quarter as Heller went over from the 2 with 8:55 to go in the third quarter. Phillip Yanella connected on his fouth extra point of the night as Downingtown West (8-1 overall, 4-1 league) took the lead for good 28-21. Heller finished the night with 124 yards on 24 carries.
Coatesville (6-3 overall, 3-2 league) jumped out to a 14-0 lead before most of the fans were even in their seats thanks to 2 long touchdown runs by Wylie of 47 and 67 yards. Wylie finished with 212 yards on 27 carries. After his second long touchdown run, Wylie was basically held in check by the Downingtown defense.
“Taking nothing away from Coatesville, but our defense stepped up when we had too,” said Milano. We got punched in the mouth, got up and punched them in the mouth, he added.
West can wrap up at least a share of the National Division title next week when they travel all of 2 miles to Bishop Shanahan on Saturday, while Coatesville looks to keep their now slim playoff hopes alive when they host Avon Grove.
3 Responses
Coatesville always has the talent year in and year out, but ultimately that hasn’t been getting it done in recent years.
As for West, they have been impressive but beatable. I will be interested to see how they fare in the playoffs against the likes of North Penn, GV, and some of the other D1 powers.
I would like to see Coatesville and D-Town East win to put 3 AAAA Ches-Mont teams in the playoffs though.
Doesn’t matter. Garnet Valley can handle these teams. GV-North Penn, see ya there.
It was an incredible game. Coatesville has an amazing football team. What an exciting night, you had to be there to really appreciate how good both of these teams played last night.