Breaking it Down: Coatesville, Unionville take high hopes into state semifinal showdowns
In the District 1 Class 6A final against Garnet Valley last week, Coatesville looked completely out of its comfort zone trying to defend the Jaguars’ triple option attack.
The Red Raiders struggled to get stops until late in the second half, and as a result, their offense never found that rhythm that can be so unstoppable.
Against St. Joseph’s Prep in the PIAA semifinals, Friday, Coatesville will face a team very similar to itself, in terms of style of play.
The athletic spread offense of the Hawks may seem more appealing to face than Garnet Valley, but will make Coatesville very uncomfortable once again is the size and physicality of the Prep offensive and defensive lines.
Just like in 2012, when Coatesville took out La Salle College High, the Red Raiders will make a short trip to Kottmeyer Stadium at Downingtown West to face St. Joe’s Prep, winner of three of the last four big school state titles.
District 1 Class 5A champ, Unionville, will have to make more of a trek, heading to Northeast High to attempt to dethrone Archbishop Wood, winner of four of the last six 3A/5A state titles.
This round has not been friendly for District 1 teams, going up against the powerhouses of District 12 since its joining of the PIAA in 2008. In 4A/6A, District 1 is 2-5 against the Philadelphia Catholic League champ, while in 3A/5A, District 1 is 0-9.
Now let’s look at what we can expect in each matchup.
St. Joe’s Prep (12-0) vs. Coatesville (13-1)
WHEN ST. JOE’S PREP HAS THE BALL >> Like Coatesville, the Prep runs the spread offense and everything starts with the quarterback. Marquez McCray, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound senior makes quick decisions and gets the ball out of his hand quickly. He is also a threat with his legs, picking up 456 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground (according to tedsilary.com).
Along with the short, quick passing attack, the Prep will line up with trips to one side, trying to single up its top receiver, Brandon Sanders, on the backside. Sanders leads the team with 30 receptions for 369 yards and eight touchdowns, and is a very dynamic talent.
Coatesville cornerbacks Avery Young and Aaron Young will likely be matched up one-on-one against the outside receivers for much of the game. That will be a fun game within the game to keep an eye on since Sanders is headed to Bucknell University, Avery is committed to Rutgers and Aaron has a few handfuls of Division 1 offers.
This game will be won in the trenches though, and the Hawks are sizeable. The five linemen they had out against Parkland average 6-foot, 282 pounds, according to their listings.
The Hawks spread the carries between Marques Mason (609 yards, 10 TDs) and Kolbe Burrell (594, 12).
The Prep hasn’t put up gaudy numbers on the ground much this season, but the way Coatesville has given up rush yards (231 per) this playoff stretch, don’t be surprised if the Hawks try to pound it.
WHEN COATESVILLE HAS THE BALL >> The Red Raiders are coming off their lowest offensive output against Garnet since a week two loss to Cumberland Valley. Maybe that served as a wake-up call because Coatesville will have to be razor sharp against a dominant Prep defense.
The Hawks allow, on average, 7.7 points per game and have given up two or more scores just three times all season.
The challenge for the Red Raiders will be to establish a running game, something they could not do against Garnet. If the Prep is able to contain the run with six, or even five in the box, Coatesville quarterback Ricky Ortega will have a much tougher time finding open receivers.
“The biggest part is their defensive line and linebackers,” Coatesville coach Matt Ortega said. “That’s where it is going to have to get done – either our guys or their guys up front.”
Ryan Brice sets the tone for the Prep defense as a hulking 6-foot-4, 290-pound tackle who’s committed to Army. If he’s able to drive blockers into the backfield as he’s done all season, Coatesville’s zone run game will be forced sideways and that will be problematic.
Coatesville would not be favored in a slugfest. It will have to make it track meet, just like in 2012 against La Salle. If the Red Raiders’ offense can get and keep their rhythm, they have the horses to keep up with the Prep’s.
Ricky Ortega is 204 passing yards away from a 3,000 yard season, and Dapree Bryant needs 12 more receiving yards for 1,000.
“I am very impressed with their quarterback and skill players,” Prep coach Gabe Infante said. “They do a nice job of playing off of each other, and you can tell that they’ve played a lot together. For an opposing coach it’s fun to watch and scary at the same time.”
Archbishop Wood (10-2) vs. Unionville (13-1)
WHEN WOOD HAS THE BALL >> Wood has been the most consistent District 12 team at accumulating talent from the region and turning it into championships. The Vikings have feasted on its 3A/5A state playoff opponents, going 21-4 against non-District 12 schools since 2008. They have especially dominated District 1 foes, going 8-0 by an average score of 36.3-12.4.
Once again the Vikings are led by Division 1 talents in running back/safety and Virginia Tech recruit, Nasir Peoples, and tight end/defensive end and Florida commit, Kyle Pitts.
The offense goes through Peoples, who has 1,427 yards and 22 TDs on the ground (tedsilary.com). Wood will use multiple formations, from the spread, to double tight, to lining up multiple fullbacks ahead of Peoples, with the same intent: running the ball downhill.
The last two weeks Peoples has carried the ball 39 times for 349 yards and six touchdowns, while quarterback Jack Colyar has only attempted seven passes in those games.
Unionville played its best game, defensively, last week against Springfield (Delco), holding the Cougars to 162 total yards and only 33 on the ground.
Peoples and his big offensive line will be the best group the Indians have faced all season, but forcing the ball into the air with their capable secondary would be the best recipe for success.
WHEN UNIONVILLE HAS THE BALL >> Much like last week, the Indians need to capitalize on turnovers and special teams if they get those momentum plays.
Quarterback Alex Gorgone has played smart football this postseason and hasn’t thrown an interception since week nine. Keeping Wood’s high-octane offense off the field is key, and Unionville will have to clean up its ball-handling after losing five fumbles in four playoffs games.
Wood played a brutal schedule its first four weeks, going 2-2, but since then are allowing just 9.4 points per game in the last eight games.
Pitts, who’s listed at 6-foot-6, 240 pounds, is a stopper on the edge. In the secondary, Ryan Loughlin leads the Vikings with four interceptions.
The Indians have not been a flashy, high-flying team all season, and that may help them in this sort of a game. If Unionville can keep the score close, the senior leadership of Joe Zubillaga, JT Hower, Dante Graham and Gorgone will go a long way. This Unionville team is not afraid to get down and dirty against anyone this season, and it will need its grittiest performance of the year to reach its first-ever state final.
