Coatesville cruises again, rolling C.B. East to set up date with Downingtown East
CALN >> The best way to sum up Coatesville’s 48-10 win in a District 1 Class 6A first round game against Central Bucks East Friday night might be a quote from famed college basketball announcer Billy Packer, who once told play-by-play partner Brent Musberger, “Too many athletes, Brent.”
Aaron Young had three total touchdowns, Ricky Ortega ran for one and threw for two, and Dapree Bryant had a TD catch and an electrifying kickoff return as the second-seeded Red Raiders rolled on the soggy Friday.
Coatesville moved to 11-0 after its fifth straight district playoff victory, and sixth in its last seven district games. The win set up a rematch with Ches-Mont League foe Downingtown East next week in the second round.
“It’s just great for the county to have two Ches-Mont teams playing in Week 2,” Ortega said. “We know they’re going to come here and bring their ‘A’ game, like they always do.”
The numbers keep piling up for the defending 6A champions. They now have outscored their opponents, 520-112. Young gained 66 yards in one half of play to give him 1,059 for the season and 5,010 career yards. Ortega is now one TD pass away from 100, and Matt Ortega earned his 99th victory with the school.
“We’ve got a lot more to go,” said Ricky Ortega. “Hopefully we can come out next week and play this well again.”
The Red Raiders took the opening kickoff and immediately went to work. After a loss of 11 on the first play, they had gains of 27, 13 and 15 yards. Young finished off the eight-play drive by running five yards out of the Wildcat formation for the early 7-0 lead.
A quick three-and-out gave the ball back to Coatesville. On a first-and-10, Ortega hit Dapree Bryant perfectly in stride up the right side for a 47-yard score and a 14-0 advantage.
The Patriots got their offense going on their next drive. They moved to the Coatesville 13 following a 38-yard pass from senior quarterback Evan O’Donnell, who later left the game due to an injury, to leading receiver Chris Lochetta. They lost two yards on the next three plays, and had to settle for a 32-yard field goal by Michael Smigley.
CB East then tried to keep the ball away from Young on the kickoff, but got stung anyway. Bryan found a crease and sped 79 yards for the score and a 21-3 lead late in the first quarter.
“He set that up and he had that burst and burned everybody,” said Ortega. “That’s what he does. He’s a special player.”
Coatesville was back in business after stopping East on a fourth down at midfield. Ortega swung a pass out to Young on the left side. He then went full steam ahead up the field to score nearly untouched.
“We read the corner on that to see if he was biting,” he said. “And then Aaron was wide open, and I gave him the ball. He looked fast on that run, oh my gosh. I think that was the fastest I’ve ever seen him run.”
The Red Raiders didn’t take long to score again on their next possession. Ortega burst free on QB draw at midfield and rambled all the way to the 1-yard line. He burrowed in on the next play for a 35-3 lead.
“I read the block and cut outside,” said Ortega. “I should’ve scored, but I came back and scored on the next play, so I’m happy.”
Young added a 2-yard run late to cap off a dominating first half for a 42-3 lead at the break.
The Red Raider made wholesale changes as East notched its only TD. Bryan Kelly broke a tackle, then outraced the secondary en route for a 61-yard jaunt.
With most of the spotlight going on the Coatesville offense, the excellence of the defense get lost. The first team held the Patriots to a field goal, and they recorded three sacks and two interceptions.
“Yes,” Kelly said when asked if he was surprised how good the Coatesville defense was. “They’re real good tacklers. Definitely wacthed out film because they read our plays well. Definitely good defense. Good offense. All-around good team.”
Sophomore Dammetrius McClain-Jackson closed out the scoring with a 3-yard score late in the fourth.
