Week 10 sees many important games

@Pete DLN on Twitter
Week Ten of the Chester County high school football season is here – the last week of the regular season and both the Ches-Mont American and National Divisions are still up for grabs.
The Battle of the Brandywine between the two Downingtowns will also be a big game on the local scene.

In the National Division, if both Coatesville and Downingtown West win, then they will share the title. In the American Division, if Kennett can defeat Great Valley, then the Blue Demons will claim the championship outright. A Great Valley win would force a tie for the division crown:

Here is a look at all the weekend action.

Great Valley (7-2) at Kennett (6-3), 7 p.m.
Kennett got another big performance from running back Julian Sparacino, who torched Sun Valley for 141 yards rushing and two touchdowns. He has 1,175 yards rushing so far this season, and will be a big factor.

Great Valley had trouble standing up to the West Chester Rustin running attack last week in a 32-0 loss. The Pats gave up 378 yards on the ground and they will be tested again by the Kennett ground game.

Pick: Kennett 28, Great Valley 10

Avon Grove (4-5) at Coatesville (7-1), 7 p.m.
Coatesville was given a loss by District 1 for using an ineligible player in its 35-7 win over West Chester Rustin three weeks ago. Avon Grove is slowly improving under head coach Joe Coffey, but everything favors Coatesville in this matchup.

Pick: Coatesville 35, Avon Grove 7

Bishop Shanahan (4-5) at Chichester, (1-7) 7 p.m.
Bishop Shanahan is beset by injuries, but a win over a struggling Chichester team may be enough to get the Eagles into the District 1 4A playoffs.

Pick: Bishop Shanahan 28, Chichester 7

Downingtown West (7-1) at Downingtown East (7-2), 7 p.m.
Both teams need a win to secure a first-round home game in the upcoming district playoffs. Whippets quarterback Quinn Henicle is having a big year, completing 43 of 64 passes for 898 yards. The Cougars will try to use their power running game against a West defense that has gotten better as the season has gone along.

Downingtown West might have more playmakers than the Cougars.

Pick: Downingtown West 28, Downingtown East 21

Oxford (3-6) at Sun Valley (4-5), 7 p.m.

Oxford needs a win here to secure a District 1 5A playoff spot. The Hornets are coming off a tough loss to West Chester East last week.

Pick: Sun Valley 21, Oxford 20

Unionville (2-7) at West Chester Rustin (6-2), 7 p.m.
The forfeit win Rustin received from District 1 vaulted them to number three in the 5A playoff standings. The Golden Knights’ front walls on offense and defense looked very impressive in a 32-0 whipping of Great Valley last week. The Rustin running attack, which put up 378 yards on Great Valley last week, should be the key again as Unionville is giving up yardage on the ground. The game will also be the final one for Unionville coach Pat Clark, who will step down at the end of the season.

Pick: WC Rustin 28, Unionville 7

West Chester Henderson (1-7) at West Chester East (1-8), 7 p.m.
Both teams garnered their first wins of the season last week and the kids and coaches should be applauded for still playing hard this late in a tough season.

Pick: West Chester Henderson 21, West Chester East 17

Conestoga (6-3) at Garnet Valley (8-0), 7 p,m,
Conestoga broke a two-game losing streak by downing Radnor, 40-27 last week. Running back Jon Quici had a big game, rushing for 139 yards on 29 carries, filling in for injured quarterback Peter Costigan.

Conestoga will have to hope its defense can keep the Jags’ potent offense off the field. Garnet’s  wing-T attack is averaging over 35 points per game. They haven’t scored less than 20 points since the opening contest of the campaign.

Pick: Garnet Valley 28, Conestoga 14

Saturday’s game
Malvern Prep (6-1) at Germantown Academy (6-1), 1:30 p.m.
The Malvern Prep offense did not garner a first down in a 6-0 loss to Haverford School last week. But, the defense, which is allowing only three points per game, is going to win it here for the Friars.
Pick: Malvern Prep 14, Germantown Academy 0