Downingtown East had the perfect game plan for sister school Downingtown West Friday Nite and it worked to perfection.
Sophomore Running Back Ryley Angeline had 120 yards on 25 carries and scored two touchdowns and Junior Wide Receiver Jay Harris had five catches for 112 yards, four for touchdowns as East put a 44-14 thumping on West in a Ches-Mont National Division game Friday Nite at Kottmeyer Stadium.
“Our game plan was how to get the ball in fours’ hands”, said East Coach Mike Matta. “We decided it was pound, pound, pound, Harris, pound pound, pound, Harris. We wanted to make sure they were concentrating on the run before we hit them with Harris” he added.
Following a safety, Angeline scored on a one yard run that capped a 40 yard six play drive, all on the ground by Angeline to give the Cougars (7-1 overall 3-1 Ches-Mont National) a 9-0 lead and they never really looked back
The aireal show to Harris then took center stage offensively for East scoring two touchdowns 1 minute 16 seconds apart.
The first was a 29 yard pass from Junior Quarterback Trey Lauletta with 10:43 to go in the second period. Then following a quick three and out by West, Lauletta (10-16 for 181 yards and the four touchdowns) found Harris down the right sideline and despite being double covered, went up between the two defenders and caught the 31 yard pass with 9:16 to go before halftime to increase the lead to 23-0.
West (6-2 overall, 2-2 Ches-Mont National) then got on the scoreboard as Donte Harrell (eight carries, 139 yards) went 83 yards for a score to cut the lead to 23-7 with 3:41 to play before halftime.
But just when you thought that might be the halftime score, Lauletta once again hooked up with Harris, this time on a 25 yard pass with four second remaining to go into the locker room with a 30-7 lead. That was the touchdown that may have done in theWhippets.
What also did in West was some unsung heroes for East.
Lucas Restrepo’s down field blocking, springing Angeline and Harris for more yards. Jamie Como had 2 fumble recovereries and an interception. Or maybe the real unsung hero of the night, Punter Eddie Kozlowski. Twice Kozlowski pinned west at the one yard line and boomedtwo other punts that West was unable to return.
“I just wanted to get the punts to roll inside the 10″‘ Kozlowski said. “The guys did a great job on coverage”.
West did show a glimmer of hope when Harrell went 18 yards for a score with 6:37 left in the third quarter as West trailed 30-14.
“They did have us back on our heels there in the third quarter”, said Matta. “They’re a good football team and they didn’t quit”.
With the win, East now controls their own destiny for another Ches-Mont Division Crown. That saga continues next week as East plays host to West Chester East, coached by former Downingtown Quarterback and East Offensive Coordinator Dan Ellis. West has to regroup and make the seven mile trek to Coatesville next Friday nite.
