Coatesville moves to 9-0 with shutout win at Avon Grove
WEST GROVE >> The Coatesville football juggernaut rolled into Southern Chester County on Friday and exited with the latest in a series of weekly blowouts. The 42-0 Ches-Mont National triumph against overmatched Avon Grove was very much like the nine that have come before.
“We take care of business and then move on to the next week,” said senior linebacker Nik Thompson. “We know what it’s like to win and we don’t lose much — and when we do it hurts. So we focus-up every week.”
Now 9-0 overall (5-0 in the league), Coatesville is outscoring its opponents by an average of 38 per game. And Friday was just another successful business trip.
“This group has been very trusting in when we are doing as a program,” said Raiders’ head coach Matt Ortega. “These kids surprise us every week and just come out and play.
“Our upperclassmen have played in a lot of big games, and we’ve had extended seasons the last few years, so they really understand what we are trying to do.”
For Coatesville, it was the final tune-up before the regular season ending showdown with archrival Downingtown East. Currently second in the District 1 6A power rankings and a major contender for a state crown, the Raiders topped the Cougars twice a year ago.
“It’s a big game for us because we can win the Ches-Mont title,” said junior quarterback Ricky Ortega. “For me, it’s the biggest game of the year – I love playing Downingtown East. And our first goal is the Ches-Mont championship.”
The loss almost certainly knocks the Devils (2-3, 4-5 overall) out of contention for the District 1 6A playoffs, even though they will end the regular season against struggling West Chester Henderson. Avon Grove was 19th in the power rankings heading in and only 16 teams will qualify.
“We still have a shot to end the season 5-5 and maybe an outside shot of making the playoffs,” Avon Grove head coach Harry O’Neill said. “We’re not out until they say we are out. For us to be this deep in the season and have an opportunity, it’s only happened since 2009. I’m not saying we’ve turned the corner, but we’re not 0-30 like we used to be.
“We were gritty and our guys showed heart and effort, and that’s all I can ask. The better team definitely won.”
Ortega was ultra-efficient and registered four touchdown passes – including three to dynamic wideout Dapree Bryant – while star runner Aaron Young added two more rushing TDs despite having just eight carries. And even though the Red Devils limited Coatesville to 109 total yards below its average, O’Neill was impressed.
“We tried to compete as long as we could, but (Coatesville is) definitely the best team we’ve played this season,” said O’Neill, who’s also played Malvern Prep and both Downingtowns.
“They just have so many different weapons all over the field. You can’t focus on taking away one guy. The quarterback (Ricky Ortega) is really good, the running back (Young) is the best player in the league, their receivers may be the best group in the state and their offensive line is very good. Plus their defense doesn’t give up many yards.”
The Raiders scored on their first three possessions to race out to a 21-0 lead after one period. Young opened the scoring with a three-yard run, and then Ortega connected on a 40-yard pass to Dymere Miller, followed by a 45-yard strike to Bryant.
“We never look past our opponents,” said Ortega, who was 10-of-12 for 210 yards through the air. “We always play like we want to go 1-0 each game.”
The Devils managed to keep it respectable by controlling the football, especially in the second quarter, which kept the dangerous Raiders’ offense off the field. O’Neill went for it on fourth-and-1 at his own 27, and got it, on one possession and drove it inside the Coatesville five on another in the final minute of the first half.
But Coatesville’s Shamaur Hall picked off a J.T. MacDonald pass at the goal line and returned it 42 yards to set up a back-breaking TD. Ortega hit Bryant again for his 2nd TD catch with three seconds on the clock.
“That was a 14-point swing. That definitely hurt us,” O’Neill said.
“That was a big turning point. Instead of going into the half 21-7, it was 28-0 and that’s a big difference,” Ricky Ortega added.
Matt Ortega said: “(Avon Grove) did a good job of shortening the half with possession. And along with our penalties, that kept it close. But we made that big play, which was kind of a dagger for (Avon Grove). Our back was against the wall, and the way we responded is the sign of a good team.”
The Raiders began the second half with a fourth-down-conversion for a touchdown on a 15-yard strike from Ortega to Bryant. And when the Devils failed to convert a fourth-down in their own territory, Coatesville turned it into the final scoring march of the game, culminating with an eight-yard run by Young.
“We came out, took care of business and now we’re heading into next week against Downingtown East, which is what we’ve been working on all season — to get to that big game for our league championship,” Matt Ortega said.
“I told our guys to extend (Coatesville) into the third quarter,” O’Neill explained. “Nobody’s done that yet. Usually by halftime, they have their starters off the field.
“I told them before the game we are going to onside kick, we aren’t going to punt and we are going to use every trick play we have, and just see what happens.”
Bryant paced all receivers with five catches for 101 yards, and Ortega led the way with 46 rushing yards on five attempts. In all, the Raiders only ran the ball 16 times.
“(Avon Grove) was kind of taking away Aaron (Young),” Ricky Ortega said. “We just take like what the defense gives us.
“And I feel like the only way to stop (Bryant) is to double-team him. So if I see he is in a one-on-one situation, I am going to take the shot with him.”
Defensively, the Raiders limited the Devils to just 178 yards, but Avon Grove did march inside the Coatesville five-yard-line late in the fourth before turning it over one downs.
“It’s a real confidence booster, even when the reserves go in and keep the shutout going,” Thompson said.
