Talone leads Great Valley over WC East

EAST WHITELAND- The times may be changing around the Great Valley football team. A week after an impressive opening night win over William Tennent, the host Patriots dominated West Chester East behind a big game from senior quarterback Andy Talone, as the Patriots rolled to another good win, 24-7, in Ches-Mont American Division action.

Talone rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns and completed 11 of 18 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown as the senior signal caller led the way for an impressive Great Valley win.(1-0, Ches-Mont, 2-0 overall).

“It was a total team effort tonight to get this win,” Talone said. “Al those yards i ran for and the yards I threw for does not happen without the offensive line and my receivers. they all did a great job tonight. We have a good team this year. We have about six seniors who have started since sophomore year and our motto is that we are a brotherhood. We all play for each other and it showed tonight. last year we did not have much of an off season because of Covid, but this season we are back and we are all working very hard.”

Great Valley scored with just 51 seconds left in the opening period when Talone went over the left side of the line for a two yard touchdown run and the Patriots were off and running with a 7-0 lead.

West Chester East was without star running back Mitch Ragni, who was out with an injury but senior back Drew Steele rushed for 106 yards on 17 carries but the Vikings just could not find the end zone against a rugged Patriots defense that held sway when it had to.

Great Valley had a fourth down and two yards to go at the Vikings (0-1, 0-2) 27 yard line when Talone hit Gavin Maslowski with a strike down to the West Chester East three yard line. On the next play, Talone rolled into the end zone for a 14-0 Great Valley lead.

West Chester East tried to mount a comeback late in the second period but Great Valley linebacker Nick Pelliccotta picked off a Ryan McIntire pass and brought the ball back to the West Chester East 19 yard line. Two plays later Talone hit Dylan Cave in the end zone and the Patriots had a commanding 21-0 lead at halftime. Talone hit passes to six different receivers with Jackson Callahan catching five balls for 80 yards.

“We have about five or six seniors who have played a lot and have some experience,” Great Valley head coach Jeff Martin said. “And I am so proud of them and the entire team. They work very hard and Andy had a great game but our receivers caught the heck out of the football and our line did a great job too.”

West Chester East showed some life midway through the third period when Tyler Wileczek intercepted alone deep in Vikings territory. The Vikings, behind the rugged running of Steele got the ball down to the Great Valley 19 yard line. but the Patriots defense held on downs and stuffed Mason Grear on fourth and one to go and the Patriots shutout was still intact.

After a Gillian Yonce 21 yard field goal to make it a 24-0, game late in the fourth period, the Vikings got on the scoreboard with 41 seconds to play when Wileczek caught a four yard pass from McIntire. It was the first West Chester East points the year, and the final score was 24-7.

“We have to clean up the penalties and some mental mistakes but I was real proud of the kids tonight,” Martin said.” Now we have to get ready for a Sun Valley team that has improved since last year.”