District 1 5A football: Rustin, Kennett on collision course

This week the top seed in the District 1 5A playoffs, the West Chester Rustin Golden Knights, will host a very tough Kennett squad as the two teams try to advance to the semifinals. The Golden Knights are a typical Mike St. Clair-coached team.
Rustin does two very important things very well and it is no accident. The Golden Knights run the football effectively and they defend the run very well. These two tenets have been the mainstays of the Golden Knights since their inception in 2006.
St. Clair is the only head coach in West Chester Rustin football history. Right from the start, the Knights have been a mainstay on the Ches-Mont American Division and District 1 scene.
This season the Golden Knights elected to play just nine games, with St. Clair opting to have two scrimmages instead of one scrimmage and 10 regular season games – and it looks like it has worked. Except for an opening week 21-7 loss to Unionville, the Golden Knights have blown through their opposition, including an impressive win at Downingtown East.
West Chester Rustin had a tougher than expected first round win over Interboro but the Golden Knights woke up late in the game and came away with a 34-17 victory. This Rustin team looks like many past Golden Knights teams, but this one may be the best to come out of Westtown in a while.
The team is led by superlative running back Dayshawn Jacobs, who has rushed for 1,957 yards on the ground with 28 touchdowns. After every win Jacobs is quick to give credit to the Golden Knights’ offensive line, which may be the best in the 5A bracket.
Strong up front, quick in the backfield, with a punishing defense and very well-coached, you can see why the Golden Knights are the favorites to win the District 1 5A championship. And because of the program’s past success, the expectations are high for this group.
But, the Golden Knights are a humble bunch, always quick to credit their just-vanquished opposition. It is a refreshing change from some of the bold bravado and showmanship that has leaked down to the high school game.
West Chester Rustin may or may not win this season’s District 1 5A championship because the field is very deep. Unionville, Upper Dublin, Academy Park and Strath Haven are all teams that have the ability to win the title.
But the Golden Knights will let their play on the field do their talking for them. And what happens will happen. But one thing that is for sure is that the Knights and St. Clair will take every single opponent seriously and will not trash talk or embarrass anyone the field.
There have been many big wins for West Chester Rustin during its short football history, but that may be its biggest triumph.