Chester County Week Four football previews

We are heading into Week Four of the scholastic football season and league races are starting to take shape. Many area teams are diving into league games and there is a big one in the Ches-Mont American Division as West Chester Rustin travels to Kennett in battle for first place in the division. Here is a look at that game and the rest of the week four action:

West Chester Rustin at Kennett: Rustin has scored 92 points in its first two wins and they are running the football as well, or better, than previous Golden Knights teams.

Both Daimon Jacobs and Chase Hatton went over 160 yards rushing in a convincing 35-12 win over West Chester East. Kennett got a 200 yard, four touchdown performance from Julian Sparacino in the Blue Demons’ 37-0 shutout of West Chester Henderson last week.

The Knights have the advantage up front on the Demons but Kennett is a very well coached team and Sparacino is a tough, bruising runner.

The Kennett defense has been very impressive the last two weeks, allowing just 14 points combined in the two Blue Demons wins.

Pick: WC Rustin 21, Kennett 14.

Avon Grove at Downingtown West: West is one point away from being undefeated in its three games. The Whippets destroyed Neshaminy 30-7 last week. Drew Hangey caught seven Quinn Henicle passes for 139 yards, while the explosive Jake Kucera hauled in five passes for 95 yards and two touchdowns.

Avon Grove mustered just 21 yards of total offense in a 21-0 loss to Owen J. Roberts last week. The Red Devils will have trouble slowing down the Whippets offense and are up against it in this one.

Pick: Downingtown West 35, Avon Grove 13.  

Downingtown East at Bishop Shanahan: East traveled to beat Delaware Valley 28-20 last week while the Eagles defeated Central 36-14. The visiting Cougars will feature a lot of running back Bo Horvath, who is the area’s leading rusher after three games.

Sophomore quarterback Mason Ippolito is still in as quarterback for the injured Jamy Jenkins and the sophomore did a nice job in the win over Delaware Valley.

Pick: Downingtown East 35, Bishop Shanahan 7.

Coatesville at Penn Wood: Coatesville may have found a running game after all. Last week in the Red Raiders’ 34-28 win over a tough Central Dauphin team, Damon Watson rolled up 116 yards rushing for the Red Raiders.

Harrison Susi had a rare off night throwing the ball but the dual-threat quarterback still rushed for 134 yards on the ground. The rebuilt Coatesville offensive line has been very impressive so far this season.

Penn Wood is winless so far this season and the Patriots have scored just 11 points in three games this season. The Patriots have had trouble with penalties and they will not be able to stand up to the Red Raiders’ up front.

Pick: Coatesville 42, Penn Wood 7.

Haverford at Conestoga: ’Stoga ran into a buzz-saw in Strath-Haven last week, losing to the Panthers 25-0.

The Pioneers gave up 359 yards on the ground last week and they could not get their own offense to move the football at all. This is an easier spot for Conestoga against a 1-2 Fords squad.

Pick: Conestoga 21, Haverford 14.

Great Valley at Oxford: Oxford upset Unionville 25-7 last week in likely the biggest win of the head coach Mike Means’ tenure as boss of the Hornets.

Quarterback Dustin Long had a combined 265 total yards of offense in the win. Great Valley is 3-0 and the Patriots are getting great quarterback play from Braeden Melia who there for two scores and ran for two more in a 41-6 blowout win over Sun Valley last week.

Pick: Oxford 21, Great Valley 20

West Chester at Unionville: This game features two teams that really need a win. The visiting Vikings are 0-3 and have given up an average of 34 points per game so far in their three losses.

Unionville will likely rely on running back Joe King to carry the load for the Longhorns offense. West Chester East got a 101 yard rushing game from Mitch Ragni last week in a 35-12 loss to West Chester Rustin last week.

Pick: Unionville 20, WC East 14.

West Chester Henderson at Sun Valley: Henderson only gained 91 yards of total offense last week in a 37-0 loss to Kennett. The Warriors had trouble running the football but Danny Garcia showed some speed out of the Warriors backfield.

Sun Valley is 1-2 and the Vanguards gave up 41 points to Great Valley last week in a 41-6 loss.

Pick: Sun Valley 24, WC Henderson 21.

Imohtep Charter at Malvern Prep: This matchup features two the best teams in the state as the visiting Cougars are the favorites in the PIAA 5A bracket. Malvern Prep has been super impressive in its first two wins, outscoring its opponents 56-3 in its two wins.

Malvern Prep quarterback Skyler Smith has thrown for four touchdowns on the season. Imhotep is very quick and features elite speed at the skill positions. The Friars defense will be tested here.

Pick: Malvern Prep 21, Imhotep Charter 14.