Coming into tonight’s Conestoga–Downingtown West playoff game, it was a renewal of an old Chester County rivalry
Using a punishing ground game, West rolled up 312 yards rushing and 405 yards total offense enroute to a 40-8 victory over Conestoga in the first round of the District One AAAA football playoffs in a game played at Downingtown’s Kottmeyer Stadium.
With the win, West now gets a rematch with fifth seeded Avon Grove, a 41-14 winner over Quakertown next week, also at Kottmeyer. The Red Devils handed the Whippets their only loss in week seven 35-21. Conestoga still holds a 28-19-2 lead in the all time series between the two storied Chester County football programs.
“We were completely outplayed,” said Conestoga Head Coach John Vogan. “A fumbled snap and a short punt. You can’t give a good football team like that a short field,” he added.
The Whippets (10-1) scored on their first four possessions of the game enroute to a 26-0 halftime lead.
After holding the Pioneers (7-4) to a quick three and out to start the game, the Whippets started with the ball on the Pioneer 42 and drove the remaining yardage in six plays as Kessan Christopher scored his first of three touchdowns on a 10 yard run just 3:59 gone in the game. Pat Taylor connected on his first of four extra points and Downingtown never looked back. Christopher ended the night with 164 yards on 31 carries.
“I thought we played extremely well tonite,” said Whippet Head Coach Mike Milano. “We won the toss, defered and got on the board early.”
Not only early but very often in the first quarter.
After Andrew McLaughlin stepped in front of a Bill Flatley screen pass at the Conestoga 41 and returned it 14 yards to the 27, the Whippets needed just five plays from there as Tim Connell took a reverse and ran 16 yards for the touchdown for a 13-0 lead with 4:31 remaining in the first quarter.
Following an 11 yard punt by Conestoga’s Chris DeStefano, Downingtown started with the ball on their 40 and needed just two plays from there. Quaterback Brett Gillespie (5-6 passing 93 yards) hit Louis Smith for 51 yards on a double reverse flea ficker that set the ball up on the nine yard line. After a five yard penalty, Trey Faust took it the remaining yardage with 1:31 still to play in the first quarter for a 20-0 lead. Faust finished the night with 94 yards on just 10 carries.
Not only were the Whippets doing it on offense, they were doing it on defense too.
Eight times Downingtown forced Conestoga to go three and out.
“Mike and his staff do a great job with those kids,” said Vogan. “I’m disappointed right now, but I’m not upset,” he added.
Downingtown then scored three more times in the game.
Christopher scored on runs of 10 and eight yards and Gillespie scored on a one yard run between the two Christopher touchdowns to set the Mercy Rule into effect.
Conestoga avoided the shut-out when Gene Gibson scored on a 17 yard run with 5:43 left in the game.
Since both Downingtown West and East will play at home next week(East will play Penncrest) one game will be Friday night and one game will be Saturday.
7 responses to “Downingtown West advances 40-8”
okay i agree with pennfootball. we dominated henderson this year the game was actually worse then the score showed. downingtown west is always suppose to be at the top but they always choke in the playoffs. Rustin holds their own and and beat teams by running the ball down their throat. if rustin was in quad they would still be at the top with north penn. not to mention if rustin was in the other chestmont division they would still win it.One more thing rustins starting defense hasnt given up a point all year. enough said
That’s funny because D-West beat Henderson by only 4 points while Rustin beat Henderson by shutting them out 21-0. That’s like the only reasonable comparison between the two teams because East got blown out by both teams. And last year Rustin beat Henderson the week after Henderson beat D-West. And D-West is supposed to be a top D1 AAAA team, so I don’t know how you can really say Rustin won’t match up with AAAA. Rustin plays a week schedule, but they can definitely go head to head with most AAAA teams in the area in my opinion.
I live in West Chester and know a lot of Rustin fans. They have a hard time dealing with the truth that they are just the best team a weak AAA division. Rustin would have 2-3 losses if they played in division 4A!
rustin is better then both d-town schools and avon grove
LET’S GO D-TOWN WEST LET’S SHOW AVON GROVE WHAT YOUR MADE OF. GO WHIPPETS.
The only reason they scores was because our second defense was in.
GO WHIPPETS!