Chesco football previews: Shanahan goes for District 1 4A title; six other teams vie for semifinal berths
The opening round of the District 1 playoffs saw six Ches-Mont league teams advance to the second round, all in search of a coveted district title.
Bishop Shanahan will be playing Pottsgrove tonight for the District 1 4A championship at Jack Mancini Field. Here is a look at all the district playoff action, along with Malvern Prep vying for the Inter-Ac League title.
Pottsgrove (8-2) at Bishop Shanahan (8-3)
Pottsgrove rolled over Upper Moreland while the Eagles handled Chichester 21-0 in the opening round. The visiting Falcons are a run-centric team with a big offensive line, but they do not throw the ball very well. This might play right to the strength of the Bishop Shanahan defense, which defends the run very well.
Shanahan linemen Dylan Jones, Kenny Daniels, Liam Blakely and linebacker Brandon Choi are all very good against the run. The Eagles’ offense is centered around senior quarterback Cooper Jordan, who can run and throw the football. He should make enough plays with his legs to down the Falcons.
Bishop Shanahan 28, Pottsgrove 14
Perkiomen Valley (9-2) at Coatesville (10-1)
This second-round matchup is a rematch of a thrilling Week 2 game when the Red Raiders roared back from a halftime deficit to take down the Vikings, 35-27. For Perkiomen Valley, senior quarterback Ethan Kohler has more than 1,300 yards passing and Perkiomen Valley has a fine set of receivers who can stretch the defense. Perkiomen Valley has scored more than 40 points five times this season and will test the Red Raiders’ defense. Kohler threw for five touchdowns in the Vikings’ first-round win over CB East.
But, Coatesville is starting to pound the ball with its running game, going over 300 yards in its last two games. The Red Raiders’ offensive line is very good and should give running back Ashon Wesley and quarterback Harrison Susi some lanes to run through. The Red Raiders seem to have too many guys that can hurt a defense. Both teams have not tasted defeat in awhile. The Vikings have won seven in a row, while Coatesville has captured eight straight.
Coatesville 31, Perkiomen Valley 21
Quakertown (11-0) at Downingtown East (9-2)
Quakertown is probably wondering how an 11-0 team is on the road going against a Downingtown East team that has two losses on the season, but that is the District 1 points system for you. The visiting Panthers have two impressive wins on the season, one over Souderton, 33-7, and the other being a 31-0 shutout of defending Class 5A champion Upper Dublin. Quakertown has scored over 40 points five times this season and are a very tough bunch on defense, surrendering just 11 points per game on average.
Downingtown East got a 170-yard rushing night from Bo Horvath in the Cougars’ 21-14 win over Spring-Ford. Horvath, along with banged up Josh Asante, are going to have to be the leaders for the Cougars, who will need its running attack to be at the top of its game to win this one. The Cougars’ offensive line played very well against Spring-Ford in the 21-14 opening-round win.
Downingtown East 24, Quakertown 21
Kennett (8-3) at West Chester Rustin (9-1)
This is a rematch of the Golden Knights’ 23-0 win over the Blue Demons during the regular season. The Rustin defense allowed the Blue Demons less than 150 yards of total offense in the win. Kennett downed Chester 31-28 in the opening round. Kalen Frazier and Julian Sparacino are going to have to move the ball on the ground to keep the Golden Knights’ offense off the field.
When the Knights are on the field, the Blue Demons are going to have to find a way to contain Dayshawn Jacobs, who has more than 1,900 yards rushing this season. The Rustin offensive line is one of the best, if not the best, in the 5A bracket and will be too much for the Blue Demons over four quarters.
West Chester Rustin 28, Kennett 14
Academy Park (8-2) at Unionville (10-1)
Academy Park has a bevy of playmakers, but the main man is wide receiver-defensive back Eric Willis. He is a threat to go the distance every time he touches the football. Willis had a pick-six in the opening round win over Oxford. In addition, Terrance Oliver is a battering ram of a running back who likes to run between the tackles. Oliver torched Oxford for 142 yards on just nine carries in Academy Park’s 40-15 win over Oxford.
Unionville has a very good defense and enough of an offense to keep Academy Park off the field. Longhorns quarterback Matt McCloskey is very good at his zone reads in the running attack, which features Brendan D’Amico, Ethan Bennink and Joe King, who are all solid rushers.
Unionville 21, Academy Park 20
Malvern Prep (7-2) at Springside Chestnut Hill (3-6)
The Friars are a perfect 4-0 in the Inter-Ac and can win the outright title with a win over Chestnut Hill. The Friars’ defense held a good Episcopal Academy team to just seven points in a win last week. Colton Deery, Ryan Davis and D’Angelo Stocker lead the way for a suffocating defense.
Malvern Prep 28, Springside Chestnut Hill 7
