Rustin, Coatesville, Shanahan remain in postseason play

There are just three area teams left in the playoffs. Both West Chester Rustin and Coatesville are chasing a District 1 championship while the 4A champion, Bishop Shanahan, begins play in the PIAA tournament with a game against District 12 champion, Bonner-Prendergast. Here is a look at the playoff action.

Ridley (11-1) at Coatesville (12-1)

Ridley arrives at his semifinal matchup with the Green Raiders fresh off a thrilling 57-56 overtime win over North Penn. The Green Raiders have scored over 40 points six times this season and Ridley depends on running back Tahir Mills to get the offense going. Ridley also has a passing game with 6-foot-5 quarterback John Heller who can throw both the medium and long pass with accuracy.

But it is Mills who makes things go for the Ridley offense. He is a very shifty runner who tallied 330 yards and four rushing touchdowns in the quarterfinal win over North Penn. The Ridley defense, however, has given up points this season. Garnet Valley hung 65 on the Green Raiders and North Penn put up 55 in a losing effort.

Coatesville quarterback Harrison Susi is very elusive and can torch the Ridley defense with passes to Tommy Ortega and LeBron Bessick, or make plays out of nothing which will frustrate the porous Ridley defense. This could be a shootout, but I think the Coatesville defense can get more stops than the Green Raiders’ and moves on to the 6A district championship.

Coatesville 42, Ridley 35

Plymouth-Whitemarsh (10-1) at West Chester Rustin (10-1)

Plymouth-Whitemarsh posted a mild upset in the quarterfinal round by downing defending 5A champion Upper Dublin with a late scoring drive in the last minute the game. The Colonials have scored over 40 points five times this season. They rely on quarterback Aidan O’Brien who has over 1,000 yards passing.

But, anybody that plays the Golden Knights has to find a way to slow down Dayshawn Jacobs. He became the all-time leading single-season rusher in West Chester Rustin history with a scintillating 325-yard, six touchdown performance in the Golden Knights 42-21 quarterfinal round win over Kennett. The Rustin offensive line should be able to control things up front and keep the ball away from the Colonials.

West Chester Rustin 28, Plymouth-Whitemarsh 21

Bishop Shanahan (9-3) vs. Bonner-Prendergast (9-2) at Avon Grove HS

Bonner-Prendergast are the District 12 champions and sport a 9-2 record. There is one common opponent between the Friars and Bishop Shanahan: both defeated Archbishop Ryan, with Shanahan having the easier time with the Raiders.

Bonner-Prendergast sports the leading rusher in the Philadelphia Catholic League, Mason Peterson, who likes to bounce things outside and has very good speed and runs with authority. Peterson makes the Friars offense go. He ran for 228 yards and three scores to break the school’s single-season rushing mark in a 29-8 win over John Bartram in the District 12 4A title game.

But the strength of the Eagles’ defense is in stopping the run. They limited Pottsgrove to a measly 21 yards on the ground in the District 1 4A championship game. The Eagles have only given up six points in their two playoff games and running on the Eagles is usually a bad idea. Shane Mulholland is fourth in passing in the PCL and he will have to hit some plays over the top for Bonner-Prendergast to keep the Eagles defense honest.

Bishop Shanahan 31, Bonner-Prendergast 21