Red Raiders capitalize on opportunities, defeat Downingtown East

Most games that are hyped to be “games of the year”, turn out to be major disappointments. Not tonight’s Ches-Mont National division game between Coatesville and Downingtown East. For the third year in a row, the game was decided by seven points or less, and the Red Raiders won for the second year in a row, this time by a score of 15-9.In an interesting trend, the visiting team is 10-2 in this series.

The game was expected to be a showcase of two high octane offenses, where neither team scored fewer than 24 points in a game this season. Until tonight, where both defenses stole the show.Downingtown East scored the first half’s only points, on a four-yard run by John Kincade, who ran for 55 yards tonight.

Coatesville took the lead in the third, on a four-yard run by Ahkeema Evans, to cap off a nine-play, 80 yard drive. Ibrahim Kallie’s extra point put Coatesville up 7-6.

Drew Brennan capped off a 14 play, 63-yard drive with a 31-yard field goal, to put the Cougars up 9-7, and set up a fun finish. Following a 45-yard punt by Drew Brennan, putting Coatesville at their 22-yard line. It took the Red Raiders ten plays to score on Evans’ second touchdown tonight. The completed conversion pass, forced the cougars to get a touchdown in 47 seconds. They got to midfield, where a Hail Mary fell incomplete.

My thoughts on tonight’s game were this: It was a case of both opportunities converted (in Coatesville’s case), or squandered (in Downingtown East’s case). Coatesville converted a fake punt on the game winning drive, a 23 yard run by Jordan Young, and 44 yards passing on the ten-play drive to put Coatesville up.

Downingtown East squandered at least three opportunities for points, a missed field goal following an intercepted pass, lost a fumbled snap inside the Coatesville five, and a missed extra point.

Jordan Young completed 14-27 passes (212 yards), and ran for 99 yards on 14 rushes. Coleman had 53 yards on 4 catches and Amir Ealey had 63 yards (2 catches).

For Downingtown East, Andrew Hudson was 10-19 passing (144 yards). Cary Angeline had five receptions (60 yards), Dan Chisena had four catches (66 yards).