Coatesville scores all 55 in first half, rolls over West Chester Henderson

CALN >> Playing against the Coatesville football team, you need to be perfect, especially if you are a heavy underdog.

Unfortunately for West Chester Henderson, they were everything but perfect.

The Warriors turned the ball over four straight times, which all led to Coatesville scores, as the train kept rolling for the Red Raiders with an emphatic 55-14 victory in the Ches-Mont League National Division contest Friday.

Coatesville scored all 55 points in the first half, and most of its starters were out well before halftime.

“You look at them, you see them and that’s one of the best teams in the state,” said first-year Henderson head coach Stefan Adams. “You got to be perfect and if you make mistakes, it goes the other way.”

The good times remain on the Coatesville sidleine as they move to 5-0, 2-0 in the Ches-Mont League National Division. They have scored more than 35 points each time out, combining for a 238-53 margin.

Coatesville took the opening kickoff and ground out an uncharacteristically long drive. They went 72 yards on 13 plays before Aaron Young broke through the middle untouched from five yards out.

Then, the fireworks started.

The Warriors fumbled on their second offensive play, setting up the Red Raiders on the 13. Ricky Ortega threw the first of his four TD passes on the evening, hitting Shamaur Hall in the flat, who took it the rest of the way for his first varsity touchdown.

“We’ve been working on that play for awhile,” said Hall, who also recovered a fumble. “First time getting in the end zone. It felt good.”

The turnover bug hit Henderson again, as quarterback Pat Esemplare rolled to his left, the ball slipped out of his hand and was picked off by Tione Holmes, who returned it to the 12. Two plays later, Young punched in from the one to make it 20-0.

On the ensuing kickoff Coatesville recovered a fumble, and Ortega cashed it in two plays later as Dapree Bryant took a pass 16 yards for a 27-0 lead.

Following another turnover, Young registered his third TD from four yards to make it 34-0. Young had an early night, recording just 40 yards on seven carries.

Henderson then gave the ball back to the Red Raiders — this time via a punt. Ortega found Frankie Sherman with a 6-yard strike, and with 5:25 left in the first, it was already 41-0.

“Our kids are just amped to play and they don’t care who they play, they just come out ready to play,” said Coatesville coach Matt Ortega.

Henderson finally got on the board in the second quarter as Esemplare hit Brendan Boyko from 32 yards out.

“You have to play for pride,” Adams said. “You’re going to take your lumps, especially when playing against a team like that. But, we have to keep working and playing.”

But, even that turned against then as Amir Kennedy took the ensuing 78 yards for the score.

Robert Thomas scored the lone touchdown in the second half.

The Red Raiders take a break from the National Division battles as they take on Rustin next week, before hosting Downingtown West.

Henderson (0-5, 0-1), will be at Bishop Shanahan.