Mix of experience and youth to power Downingtown East

Uwchlan >> The Downingtown East Cougars under head coach Mike Matta have always been a major player on the District 1 Class 6A landscape and last year was no different. They compiled a 9-3 record and advanced to the District 1 quarterfinals before being eliminated by Quakertown.

This season, East returns just three starters on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. But, for the first time in the 20-year history of the program, the Cougars have four three-year starters returning and have experience in key positions.

“We have Jamy Jenkins and Bo Horvath on offense and Mike Waite and Sam Barton on defense back,” Matta said. “They are experienced players and they have been in a lot of tough game. I feel they are ready to be the leaders on this football team for us.”

Waite and Barton are both All-State lacrosse players and will lead the tough and physical group.

“I definitely feel that leadership is part of my job being a three-year stater “ Waite said. “I know when I was a sophomore, the older guys on the team took me under their wing and showed me the right way to practice. We are a real family here and I know our defense wants to play fast and physical and we like to hit and bring the physicality to the field.”

Besides Waite anchoring the secondary, Barton is the signal caller for the defense from his middle linebacker position and he also feels that leadership is part of his responsibilities.

“I think as a middle linebacker, you have to be a leader and I am pretty much a vocal leader,” Barton said. “Us returning guys have to show the young guys the way. Our defense likes to fly around, hit people and go to the football. We may not be the biggest team defense, but we are the hardest working one. I feel we are going to have a very good season.”

The Downingtown East offense is in good hands with senior quarterback Jamy Jenkins, who is a three-year starter and running back Bo Horvath, who rushed for 1,704 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. Horvath and Jenkins both feel they have a to lead the way for the younger guys on the team. Horvath is also an All-State lacrosse player who is committed to Lehigh University.

“When Coach Matta named me one of the captains this season, I looked at it as a good challenge to be more a vocal leader that helps the young guys and I am trying to be more vocal in that role,” Horvath said. “And I am really looking forward to carrying the football a lot like I did last season. We love to run the football and we will do it until it works.”

Jenkins is the man that will be in charge for the offense. He is coming off a very good junior season, one in which which he threw for over 2,300 yards and 22 TDs. Jenkins is considered one of the best quarterbacks in District 1.

Jenkins talked about the huge responsibility that comes with being a quarterback.

“Being a quarterback I know is a huge leadership position,” Jenkins said. “That just goes with the job and I feel it is my job to lead this team. This program has seen a lot of winning and success and I feel it is part of my job to keep that winning tradition going. We have some good receivers in Tanner Di Lullo, Matt Creiger and Caden Walsh, so I am excited for the season.”

As well as playing the other Ches-Mont National Division teams, East has an arduous nonleaguez schedule that includes four playoff teams from last season — Pennridge, Academy Park, State College and Delaware Valley — as well as Ches-Mont League crossover games with Kennett and Oxford.

Downingtown East Schedule
Fri., Aug. 26 — at Pennridge, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 2 — vs. State College, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 9 — at Delaware Valley, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 16 — at Bishop Shanahan, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 23 — vs. Kennett, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 30 — at Oxford, 7 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 7 — vs. Academy Park, 7 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 14 — at Avon Grove, 7 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 21 — vs. Coatesville, 7 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 28 — vs. Downingtown West, 7 p.m.Mi