W.C. East shut down by Wesley, Academy Park

WEST GOSHEN >> A season ago, the Academy Park football team reached the first round of the District 1 Class AAA playoffs before losing a tough 13-6 decision to Pottsgrove. Judging by Friday night’s 45-19, opening-night victory over host West Chester East, the Knights look to be in the playoff hunt this year also.
Academy Park (1-0) scored 45 unanswered points in the first half after the Vikings (0-1) took an early 6-0 lead on the game’s opening drive. The catalyst for the Knights was senior running back Jermaine Wesley who scored four touchdowns on runs of 6, 32, 39, and 10 yards and finished the night with a sparkling 142 yards on 14 carries. Wesley rode the play of the offensive line, who opened huge holes for the backs.
“We just went full throttle in that first half and took over the game,” Academy Park offensive lineman Nykeal Jailoh said. “We worked all summer and wanted to come out and make a statement. Tonight, we took over the game.”
East took the opening kickoff, and behind quarterback Jon Jon Roberts, scored when he hit Drew Wahn with a 10-yard score in the corner of the end zone.
But that would be all the Vikings would be able to cheer about. The Knights scored on their first four possessions to take a commanding 30-6 lead after one period. Wesley was basically unstoppable as he, along with Jeremy Dembry, tore through the Viking defense. The Academy Park defense limited  East to 212 total yards, most of them coming in the second half when both teams cleared their benches. A fumble led to Wesley’s second touchdown run, a 32-yard burst right up the gut that seemed to take the air out of the Vikings.
Academy Park quarterback Taylor Moors was an efficient five-for-six for 106 yards and a touchdown as the junior ran the show with ease for head coach Jason Vosheski’s offense. Moors hit Deandry Covert with a beautiful 44-yard touchdown strike in the first half for the Knights’ fourth score of the first.
“Last season we were a defensive team,” Moors said. “This year, we feel we can put up points. Our defense worked with us all summer and made us better. We want to go further than we did last year and tonight, we talked about it all summer. We wanted to come out and get a good first-week win.”
The Vikings scored 13 fourth-period points to make it a 45-19 final.
Zae Murray took a 10-yard touchdown pass from Roberts for the first Vikings score of the fourth. Then, backup QB J.T. Thompson directed a nice drive that culminated in a five-yard touchdown pass to Michael Gray on the last play of the game.
Vosheski told his team to enjoy the win, but get back to work on Sunday.
“We have had trouble in years past with the offensive line, but tonight, they did a real good job,” Vosheski said. “And Wesley did a great job for us. Last year, he was real good, but he has gotten better and he knows where the end zone is. Tonight, he got it done.”
Despite the decisive loss, East head coach Dave Gueriera emphasised the need for his kids to put it behind them.
“Things just snowballed on us tonight,” Gueriera said. “And we had a lot of trouble with their speed. They are so fast. We just have to get ready for Kennett now.”

Academy Park 45, West Chester East 19
Academy Park 30 15 0 0 -45
W.C. East         6  0 0 13-19
Scoring
WC- Wahn 10 pass from Roberts (kick failed)
AP- Collins 7 run (Warlo kick)
AP-Wesley 6 run (Cleary pass from Collins)
AP-Covert 44 pass from Moors (Warlo kick)
AP-Wesley 32 run (Wesley run)
AP-Wesley 39 run (Warlo kick)
AP-Wesley 10 run (Collins run)
WC-Murray 10 pass from Roberts (Phillips kick)
WC-Gray 5 pass from Thompson (no kick)
Team Totals
AP               WC
Yards rushing  301                36
Yards passing 106               176
Total yards       407              212
Passing          5-6-0             13-32 -0
Fumbles-lost   2-2                 1-1
Punts-avg        2-36.0         5-31.0
Penalties-yds    9-50            5-55
Individual Statistics
Rushing: AP: Wesley 14-142, 4 TD’s;  Dembry 7-64; Covert 3-15; Collins 4-45, TD; Burton 2-26; Holmes 4-5; Miller 5-2. WC:Creekmur 8-31; Cooper 4-21; Hirsch 1-2; Salloum 1-2; Roberts 10 (-21).
Passing: AP:Moors 5-6-0 106 yards, TD. WC: Roberts  10-24-0 131 yards, 2TDs; Thompson 3-8-0 45 yards, TD.
Receiving: AP: Collins 1-30; Coverts 1-44, TD; Perkins 2-25; Cleary 1-7. WC: Wahn 2-20, TD; Wolov 2-31; Murray 3-41, TD; Gray 2-14, TD; Hirsch 1-17; Peterson 1-5; Richardson 1-5; Beanhardy 1-21.
Sacks: AP: McQueen, Forte.

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