Tonight was the 16th rendition of the Battle of the Brandywine between Downingtown East and West. Both teams entered the game with 6-0 records, and before a crowd of about 7,000 people.
If you told me before the game that the Whippets would:
1. Fumble the opening kickoff at their own 30,
2. Turn the ball over 4 times,
3. Allow two Cougar running backs to run for over 100 yards each, and
4. Give up 277 yards rushing for the game
I would tell you that the Cougars would beat the Whippets for the 8th time in the last 10 years.
That was not the case, as the Whippets beat the Cougars for the second year in a row, by a score of 63-35. It was a record setting night, as new records for most combined points scored in a game (98), and points scored by the winning team (63) were set.
As previously stated, the game started auspiciously for the Whippets- as they fumbled the opening kickoff. Four plays later, Stanley Bryant rumbled in from 11 yards out. The teams traded touchdowns in a 14-14 first quarter- Tyriq Lewis tied the game on a 3 yard run to tie the game at 7, Spencer Uggla & Lewis scored touchdowns to keep the game tied. Tyriq Lewis scored his third touchdown (6 yard run) to put the Whippets up 21-14 going into halftime.
The third quarter was a scoring fiesta for the Whippets as they out scored their district rivals 28-7. Alex Rosario scored on a 36 yard pass from Wil Howard for a 28-14 advantage.
Stanley Bryant scored his third touchdown to cut the Whippets’ lead to 28-14, but Julian Williams returned the ensuing kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown. 35-21 became 42-21 when Tyriq Lewis took another Wil Howard pass 34 yards to pay dirt. Julian Williams did more damage to the Cougars on special teams, taking a punt 56 yards for a 49-21 Whippets lead.
The Cougars did not go away, as Stanley Bryant scored twice, sandwiching a Sean Pelkisson 38 yard fumble return for a score. Backup quarterback Evan Wickersham put the Whippets over 60 points on a sneak.
This game always turns in legendary performances from both sides- from Pat Devlin in the first games of the Battle of the Brandywine, to Tommy Woodward’s 4 interception game in 2009, to the Lauletta’s, and Cary Angeline in recent years.
This year- it was the play of five players. For Downingtown West, Wil Howard threw for 280 yards and 3 touchdowns, while running for 86 more. Tyriq Lewis had 130 total yards (60 rushing, 70 receiving), and Julian Williams had two touchdowns on special teams. For Downingtown East, it was their running backs- Spencer Uggla (27 carries for 147 yards & a touchdown), and Stanley Bryant (125 yards & 4 touchdowns).
After the game- West coach Mike Milano stayed that “they (East) are a really good team. We have some special athletes here, who have a big game mentality. We tried to do too much early, and like a prize fight, there’s a lot of emotion. “
