Three Young brothers continuing legacy at Coatesville

 

CALN — A decade ago, Anthony Young could hardly imagine his three young sons playing football in the back yard would one day play on the same high school football field.

As fate would have it, Young’s wildest dreams came true. After a very successful football career of his own, and a job that somewhat randomly planted him in Coatesville, Young’s sons are now part of one of the best stretches in the history of Red Raiders football.

“It’s been fun,” Young said. “I only dreamt about it in college. I thought maybe they could all go to the same college and play together. It’s definitely been a moment for me that I’ll never forget, watching all three at the same time.”

The three Young brothers — Jordan, a senior quarterback, Avery, a sophomore wide receiver and cornerback, and Aaron, a freshman running back and cornerback, — make up a rare trio on the team. They are, at the same time, a link to the past and a hope for the future.

Jordan is 26-5 as a three-year starter at QB and guided Coatesville to the Class AAAA District 1 championship game last fall, while Avery and Aaron are in their opening campaigns for the Red Raiders.

At 5-3 this season, Coatesville has two must-wins against Bishop Shanahan, tonight, and West Chester Rustin next week. Sitting at No. 20 in the 4A playoff rankings, the Red Raiders need to win and get help to qualify for the playoffs for the sixth straight season.

“We’ve been to the playoffs the last two years and it’s been a little awkward losing, but it’s better to have losses in the beginning of the season than at the end,” Jordan said. “If we make it to the playoffs we have a good chance to make a run.”

Anthony was a star defensive back at Temple University and was drafted in the third round of the NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts. A spinal injury forced him to retire during his first season. He became a pharmaceutical salesman, and to combat the drive between Hershey and Philadelphia, he settled in Coatesville.

“He has high expectations for us and it makes us want to reach them,” Jordan said of his father. “He made the NFL and it makes us want to get there. We work hard every day and listen to what he says.”

The three Young boys played youth football for the Downingtown Young Whippets, but never all on the same team. Jordan was always a weight level above, while Avery and Aaron were teammates multiple times.

“I feel like we’re playing in the back yard again,” Aaron said of this season. “It’s been fun.”

Aaron is a rare freshman on Coatesville, but with a lot of turnover from last season’s team and a relatively young lineup, the situation was right after an impressive summer camp.

Coach Matt Ortega’s philosophy with freshmen is if they’ll contribute to the varsity, they have the option to play up. Former Red Raiders Tyler Burke and Daquan Worley chose to stay with their classmates a few years back, but the opportunity to have all three brothers was too much to pass up.

“Seeing three of them on the field together is pretty special,” Ortega said. “You don’t see that very often. The biggest thing is they’re team guys. They’ve never been about themselves or their family, they’re about the team and that’s there biggest attribute.”

Jordan is hoping to extend what has been a historic high school career. He has passed for 5,016 yards and 40 touchdowns and rushed for 1,348 yards and 36 scores. He’d be in rare company if he reached the 40-40 mark for passing and rushing TDs.

Avery and Aaron appear on their way to leaving their marks on the program. Aaron has rushed for 517 yards and seven TDs, caught 12 passes for 177 yards and another score and also intercepted two passes. Avery has an interception and led the team with 17 receptions for 260 yards and three TDs before missing the past three games with an injury. He’s expected to be back this week.

“They’re all different,” Ortega said. “Jordan is more quiet and reserved and Avery is a social butterfly. Aaron is kind of a mix of the two. The one thing they have in common is their understanding of the big picture. They work hard in the weight room and in the classroom and they’re all about the team.”

There is a ton of good talent in the Ches-Mont League graduating next spring, so it will be a race to restock and retool. Coatesville won’t repeat as National Division champions this fall, but they may have a leg up next year with Avery and Aaron, and Ortega’s son Ricky at QB not far behind.

For now though, it’s about surviving and advancing.

“This is my first time playing with Jordan and I don’t want it to end early,” Avery said. “We want to play great and extend our season so Jordan and the seniors can go out the right way.”

If Coatesville was to make the playoffs, there is a very good chance Downingtown East or Downingtown West could be the opponent. It’d be only fitting for Jordan to have to get through a Downingtown, where his football career began, to stave off the end of his high school run.