This date in 2012: A weekly look back at the state final Coatesville team, 8.31

It has been a decade since Coatesville surprised many by reaching the PIAA Class 4A State Championship game. 

The 2012 Red Raiders were only the third team from Chester County to reach a state final in football, joining the 1994 and 1996 Downingtown teams. 

Because of that, each week we will relive Coatesville’s historic run to Hershey with an on-this-date series, re-documenting the 2012 Red Raiders.

Coatesville kicked off their 2012 season on August 31, when William Penn High visited from York County.

Matt Ortega was starting his fourth year as Coatesville’s head coach, having left a five-year stint at William Penn. Ortega entered the season with a 22-11 record with the Raiders, and was coming off his first postseason win the year prior.

Coatesville knocked off Spring-Ford in the 2011 playoffs before bowing out to Pennsbury in the second round. Graduated from that squad was the star trio of Manny Stocker (quarterback), Dae-Hon-Hon Cheung (running back) and Kyle Kerrick (wide receiver). 

Emmett Hunt, who completed four out of his 15 career passes for 32 yards leading into his senior year, took over as his first and only year starter. Against William Penn, Hunt’s excelled from the get-go, completing five of seven passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns.

Chris Jones, the most established skill player at that point, caught just two passes that night, but both went for scores and totaled 115 yards.

Dre Boggs, who began to get more playing time in the second half of his junior season, recorded one catch for 23 yards and scored Coatesville’s first TD of the season on a run. 

Daquan Worley stepped in as the lead running back and collected a modest 61 yards on 10 carries, but made his present felt on the defensive side with a fumble recovery and an interception he returned 84 yards for a touchdown. Farrell Boyd closed out the scoring for Coatesville with another pick six.

When the dust settled, Coatesville walked away a 41-0 winner. It was one of two games the defense pitched a shutout and the 95 total yards allowed ended up the second-fewest on the season.

The following week, Coatesville prepared for Inter-Ac League champ, Malvern Prep.