Sustaining excellence: Coatesville primed for another postseason run

COATESVILLE >> Sporting a gaudy 29-3 record over the last three seasons, competing for league, district and state titles have become a rite of passage for the Coatesville High School football team. And 2021 is shaping up to be no exception.
The Red Raiders bring back another talented squad that is ready to defend its Ches-Mont League National Division title and become a major player for a district, and maybe even a state title.
“I love our group of guys. You know, our tight ends, linebackers and our offensive line. Even our skill kids,” said head coach Matt Ortega. “This is a hungry group. They have a chip on their shoulders and when we get through this COVID stuff, I think we can be a difficult team.”
It all starts with the young man at the controls of the Coatesville offense, junior quarterback Harrison Susi.
The junior starts the season as the unquestioned triggerman for a unit that is expected to put a lot of points on the scoreboard.

“He’s bigger, faster, stronger. Along with that, he’ll be smarter with a year under his belt, so the sky’s the limit for him,” said Ortega. “He gets better with every practice.”
Susi agrees that he comes into the year more at ease with being the man under center.
“I’m definitely more comfortable this year,” he said. “My arm is stronger and I’m getting to my reads easier.”
Asked about his talent at the skill positions, Ortega said simply, “We’re going to be surprising at the skill positions, let’s just put it that way.”
Going into more depth about his running game, Ortega expounded: “We got a bunch of them (running backs). We have a bunch of wideouts. We have a lot of just good football players. Carrying the load in the backfield will be two seniors, Ashon Wesley and Brian Lacey. They’re going to be the two primary running backs.”
All-Ches-Mont League selection Ozzie Ortega returns to anchor the offensive line.
The Red Raiders have a long and illustrious list of explosive playmakers at wide receiver. Lebron Bessick is hoping to add his name to that group.
Asked about the preseason, Bessick responded, “It’s been great. It’s long, but it’s been all football. Me and Harrison have a good connection. He has a great football IQ.”
Bessick also has some lofty goals coming into the season: “I want to make the All-Ches-Mont team, All-State and be invited to the Big 33 game.”

The well runs much deeper, however, as Ortega explains.
“We have Tommy Ortega and Dwayne Molina at receiver. I think is going to be absolutely electryfing, and Lebron Bessick at wideout. We have a transfer from Octorara, James Taylor, he’s going to be good. And rising sophomore Amir Hasler, who plays every offensive position other than line. He’s going to be a special kid.”
While the offense gets most of the headlines, the defense is a unit to heralded in its own right. The group is led by a pair of returning members of the first-team Daily Local News All-Area football team, linebacker Nolan O’Hara and lineman Chayse Scott. Last year, the group held opponents to an average of 91 rushing yards per game and they hope be as stingy this season.
“I’ve been working on my hands and getting better in the run game,” said Scott. “Our front seven are going to be really good. We’re ready to go.”
Along with Scott, Francisco Scott started at nose tackle as a freshman and could be special. RJ Rickabaugh, who also plays tight end, is also a talented linebacker.
“Me and Nolan work well together,” said Rickabaugh. “We’re going to have a real good unit.”
O’Hara bulked up to 205 pounds in the offseason and feels he’s also gotten faster. Newcommer Josh Miller could be what Ortega called “a dude.”
The schedule sees the Red Raiders open up with a trip to Central Bucks West, before hosting Perkiomen Valley and William Penn. They begin Ches-Mont National play at Avon Grove Sept. 17. Their crossover games will be in consecutive weeks against West Chester Henderson Sept. 21 and at Oxford Oct. 1. The regular season ends with home games versus Bishop Shanahan and Downingtown East.
“We have one of the toughest nonleague schedules we’ve had in a couple of years, so our focus is getting through that,” said Ortega. “Once we get to the league we know who we have waiting for us. It’s just a testament to the teams and the coaches and the programs in our conference that has made this a very competitve league. That’s why we’ve had playoff success in 6A and 5A I’m proud to be in the Ches-Mont. We’re super excited to see a 10-game schedule. For the most part, we’ll have someone in the stands. I’m not sure how many. I think the kids are super excited about that, absolutely.
“Whenever you go against a CB West team that’s going to be very physical, then leading to a spread team like Perk Valley, then we’ll have a team that’s going to a preseason top 10 in the state in William Penn, who’s coming here in Week 3, it’s going to be a tough opening few weeks to the season.”