A midseason outlook on ChesCo football

Midway through the PIAA football season, there are still five undefeated teams in Class 6A, and three reside in the Ches-Mont League.

Coatesville, Downingtown East and Downingtown West bring their 5-0 records to what should be a very-compelling second half. 

All three are chasing North Penn, who’s the current top seed and has the easiest strength of schedule the rest of the way. Garnet Valley is also unblemished, but what may keep the playoffs going through Crawford Stadium at North Penn is the fact the Knights play all 6A teams, while the other four don’t have as many power points with 5A (and even 4A) teams left on the schedules.

The Cougars are currently second in the ranks, just 30 points behind North Penn. East lost a lot on offense to graduation, but the Cougars have barely missed a beat with Garvey Jonassaint (578 rush yards, seven touchdowns) and Zach Hamilton (429, seven) carrying the load. Luke Davis has stepped in efficiently at quarterback, throwing nine TDs with just one pick.

East’s defense has been the key, once again, and as good as that unit was last year, this group has given up half the points thru five games that it did last season. They will get tested soon.

Downingtown West, currently tied for No. 3, will get its shot first. After two down years, the Whippets are officially back. 

This is a vintage Mike Milano offense. Will Howard’s progression is in his second year at quarterback has taken West to another level. The junior has 1,206 yards and 11 TDs with only one interception and Tyriq Lewis, who had two whole carries last season, has rushed for 406 yards and 14 touchdowns. The Whippets, as a team, ran for 20 TDs all last season.

Dan Byrnes has been a playmaker for West and leads the area in total offense with 756 yards and 10 scores.

What may be different about this West team is its defense. Its pitched two shutouts and opponents are averaging 12 points per game against the unit. Alex Rosano leads the area with five interceptions.

Coatesville and the Downingtowns are top three in the area in both team offense and team defense, but the Red Raiders’ offense averages a touchdown more than the second-place Whippets.

The Raiders sit at No. 5 but have the ability to climb with their upcoming opponents’ combined record at 19-5. 

Blowouts in four games have limited opportunities for Coatesville’s trio of running back Aaron Young (519 yards, seven TDs), quarterback Ricky Ortega (921 yards, 11 TDs, one INT) and receiver Dapree Bryant (25 receptions, 530 yards, six TDs).

Coatesville, who is plus-11 in turnovers, has scored 58 more points than last year’s team at the halfway point. The 1996 state champion Downingtown team scored 671 points in 15 games. Coatesville is on pace to score 714 points if they were to reach 15 games (state semifinals). They take on West Chester Rustin Friday before the big game against West. Coach Matt Ortega has 95 wins at the helm of Coatesville, meaning if the Raiders run the table, win 100, as well as the Ches-Mont National Division title, could be at stake in the season finale against East.

The National appears to be a three-team race, though Avon Grove and West Chester East are both 3-2. 

The Red Devils are no longer the gimme win in the division they used to be and have won five of their last eight on their side of the league. Senior receiver Tyre Stead (333 yards, four TDs) and sophomore running back Sean Glatts (367 yards, four TDs) have sparked Avon Grove.

Sitting at No. 14, with games against West, Malvern Prep and Coatesville left, Avon Grove likely need to pull an upset to qualify for the playoffs.

The Vikings jumped out to a 3-0 start, including a win over Rustin, giving up 35 points in that span. The last two weeks they’ve given up 84 and have come back to earth.

Senior Pierre Marchant has fought through an injury to pile up 538 yards and seven TDs on the ground and junior Kyle Cichanowsky has been a nice complement in the backfield.

West Chester East has the big three left in league play, but at No. 11 in 5A now, getting to five wins may be enough to get in.

The 5A playoff picture is a bit murkier at this point. There is only one undefeated 5A team (Springfield (Delco)) with the rest of the top four comprised of teams not used to being that high up in the standings.

Rustin, at No. 7, is the highest Ches-Mont team in 5A. The Golden Knights drew Coatesville in the crossover game and then have Unionville, Great Valley and Oxford left on the schedule.

The Knights have put up points in their four games, but have also given up 28 or more in two of them. The passing game hasn’t gotten going yet, but Michael Covert (366 yards and seven TDs) and Nick Madonna (355, four) are averaging over 10 yards per carry.

Tenth-seeded Oxford, for the second straight year, started 3-0 but dropped its last two. Injuries have hurt the Hornets, as quarterback Brett Kochmansky missed most of the game in a loss to Penn Wood, and Tim Faber was out in a loss to Unionville.

Faber was leading the area in total offense before missing last week and the Hornets will need him to match the firepower the next three weeks against Sun Valley, Rustin, Great Valley.

Unionville has bounced back after a disastrous 0-3 start with two straight wins to move to No. 14. The road doesn’t get much easier with 4-1 Haverford, 3-1 Rustin and 5-0 Downingtown East left on the slate.

There are power points to be had for the returning District 1-5A champs, and Unionville has experience. Finding a game-changer has been the challenge for the Indians, but receiver Nick Schnaars (230 yards, two TDs) has showed flashes.

Kennett and Great Valley are No. 18 and 19, respectively, at 1-4. The Blue Demons got their first win a week ago on the back of one the American Division’s best athletes, Mitch Kosara (415 receiving yards, three TDs).

Great Valley did not see itself as a 1-4 team, but injuries had other ideas. Josh Burgess (400 receiving yards and three TDs) and Jake Prevost (1,015 passing yards, eight TDs, five INTs) are a talented duo, but the Patriots have turned the ball over 11 times.

Bishop Shanahan is No. 6 in the 4A standings where only three of the seven teams are above .500. The Eagles have played Coatesville and Downingtown East, so West is the last hammer left on the schedule, but they will have to improve on both sides of the ball.

West Chester Henderson is still looking for its first win, something that Conestoga earned last week.

Liam Kirk has taken over the running back for the Pioneers and he’s up to 516 yards and five scores.

Malvern Prep has two more non-league contests before diving into Inter-Ac League action. The 4-0 Friars will go there battle-tested after a very challenging start to the season. Despite averaging under 100 rush yards per game, the Friars have won with tough defense and a deadly aerial attack. Drew Gunther is having another great season under center, throwing for 1,093 yards, nine TDs and three INTs. 

Clemson recruit Keith Maguire has four touchdowns on offense and has picked off three passes at linebacker.