Chesco Football Notebook: D-East’s lunch pail gang grinding out big wins

With the Ches-Mont National Division boasting three teams in the final eight of the District 1 6A football playoffs, it is time to celebrate the three teams, Downingtown West, defending District 1 6A champion, Coatesville and the lunch pail gang from Downingtown East.
With most of the area extolling the exploits of high-flying Downingtown West and Coatesville, the group from Downingtown East took a backseat in some quarters. And that thinking was definitely questionable because the Cougars have consistently one of the top tier programs in the state, year after year.
This 2019 edition of Cougar football is as subtle as a Mike Tyson left hook. Nothing fancy with the Cougars. They don’t throw the ball that much, they run between the tackles. With their huge offensive line, they have consistently taken their opponents’ will away.
There are no big stars on the Cougars. They just line up and punch you in the mouth and that is the type of team Cougar head coach Mike Matta likes. The team is like its fiery head coach. No nonsense. No bull. Just a direct approach to beat the living heck out of you.
Next up for Downingtown East is a very talented Haverford team led by a superlative talent in Trey Blair. The Cougar defense will need to tackle effectively and the East offense will be led by the sledge hammer running of Stanley Bryant and sophomore NJ. Cogliati.
The young sophomore is in the lineup because senior Spencer Uggla broke his collarbone in the Cougars 28-24 win over Coatesville Oct. 25. Uggla suffered the injury early in the Coatesville game and just kept playing through the injury.
And that tells you all you need to know about Downingtown East. No flash. No glitter. Just a tough, physical, hard working group that seems happy to fly under the radar and win football games.
And this time of year that is all it is about.
Peter DiGiovanni covers high school football for the Daily Local News and Pa. Prep Live. You can reach him at pdigiovanni07@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeteDLN.

Pete Digiovanni’s Chester County 7 best

1. Coatesville
2. Downingtown West
3. Downingtown East
4. WC East
5. Malvern Prep
6. Kennett
7. WC Rustin