By Peter DiGiovanni
pdgiovanni07@gamil.com
@PeteDLN on Twitter
The first full week of the scholastic football season begins a day early for the Labor Day holiday. This week features every area team swinging into action as West Chester Rustin and Malvern Prep joins the rest of the local teams in rounding out the slate of games.
Downingtown East and Downnigntown West both have stern tests, while Coatesville opens its home slate. Here is a closer look at all the Week One action.
Thursday games
West Chester Rustin (0-0) at West Chester Henderson (1-0), 7 p.m.
Rustin has built its reputation as being a team based on a big offensive line and a punishing ground game. This season should be no different as the Golden Knights feature Chase Hatton, who is arguably the best running back in the 5A bracket in District 1, carrying the football a lot.
Junior quarterback David McClain is also back. The Golden Knights should be able to run the football effectively against an improved Warriors defense.
Henderson quarterback Braden O’Connor threw a 40-yard touchdown pass in last week’s 14-6 victory over Upper Darby. Running back Brady Collins is a hard runner who will give the Rustin defense something to worry about.
Pick: WC Rustin 28, WC Henderson 14
Academy Park (1-0) at Coatesville (1-0), 7 p.m.
Coatesville shut down a good Pennsbury offense last week, allowing just a fourth-quarter touchdown to the Falcons. The Red Raiders have a definite size advantage on the Knights and Damon Watson should be able to run for a lot of yardage. The Knights will have trouble moving the ball on the Coatesville defense.
Pick: Coatesville 35, Academy Park 7
Friday games
LaSalle (1-0) vs. Malvern Prep (0-0), 6 p.m. at Ocean City, NJ
This is a big test for a very talented Malvern Prep squad. La Salle defeated North Penn 34-3 last week. The Knights are a shell of what they used to be, but the Explorers looked impressive in the win. They threw for 321 yards. Malvern Prep will rely on the arm of quarterback Skyler Smith.
Pick: Malvern Prep 27, La Salle 21
Perkiomen Valley (1-0) at Downingtown West (1-0), 7 p.m.
This one features two of the best 6A teams in the district. Perkiomen Valley destroyed a good Chester team, 31-0, in its opener while the Whippets hung on for a 32-27 win over Abraham Lincoln. The PAC visitors feature junior signal caller Pat McDonald, who threw for 1,208 yards a sophomore.
McDoanld completed 64 percent of his passes last year and will test the Whippets secondary. Perk Valley rallied in the second half to down the Whippets, 30-29, last season. West will be looking to return the favor.
Pick: Downingtown West 28, Perkiomen Valley 21
Downingtown East (1-0) at State College (1-0), 7 p.m.
State College is one of the top three or four 6A teams in the state. The Little Lions feature sophomore running back D’Antae Sheffey, who rushed for over 1,700 yards as a freshman and is lightning quick. Shelley runs behind a mammoth offensive line that averages 290 pounds a man.
The Cougars allowed Pennridge just 19 total yards and one first down in a 34-0 beatdown last week. Running back Ayden Harris rushed for 155 yards on 23 carries with two touchdowns in his D-East debut. They ran for 341 yards as a team. The Cougars must be able to run the football again to have a chance at pulling off the upset.
Pick Downingtown East 21, State College 20
Penn Wood (1-0) at Avon Grove (1-0), 7 p.m.
Avon Grove defeated Oxford, 17-12, last week after receiving a 168-yard rushing performance from Harrison Watson. The visiting Patriots matched their win total from last season with a 20-6 victory in their opener.
The Red Devils seem to have the edge up front.
Pick: Avon Grove 27, Penn Wood 13
Bishop Shanahan (0-1) at Phoenixville (1-0), 7 p.m.
Phoenixville put 42 points on the board in a blasting of Great Valley last week. The Phantoms have a veteran group that returns 10 starters from a six-win season last year. The Eagles hope to tackle better than they did in a loss to West Philadelphia.
Pick: Phoenixville 28, Bishop Shanahan 17
Conestoga (0-1) at Haverford (1-0), 7 p.m.
Conestoga lost a 25-22 heartbreaker to Owen J. Roberts last week. Look for the Pioneers to rebound and move the football against the Fords. Charlie Watson will lead the Conestoga defense in the Central League lid lifter.
Pick: Conestoga 20, Haverford 14
WC East (0-1) at Great Valley (0-1), 7 p.m.
Both of these teams are looking to get on the winning track after suffering lopsided losses in their opening week games. Great Valley allowed 310 rushing yards to Phoenixville in a 42-14 loss. Quarterback Braden Melia, who threw for 202 yards, will try to exploit the Vikings secondary.
Pick: Great Valley 28, WC East 21.
Kennett (0-1) at Oxford (0-1), 7 p.m.
Both teams dropped its opening games with Kennett getting shutout by Upper Dublin, 21-0. The Blue Demons hurt themselves by losing two fumbles. Oxford got a big rushing game from CJ Boyer, who gained 96 yards on just 10 carries in a 17-12 loss to Avon Grove.
Pick: Kennett 14, Oxford 13
Sun Valley (0-1) at Unionville (0-1), 7 p.m.
Unionville lost a tough one, 14-6, to Academy Park. The Longhorns hurt themselves by losing four fumbles. Sophomore quarterback Dominic Scattolino looked good, throwing for 199 yards. Unionville’s defense allowed just 185 total yards of offense.
If they can hold onto the football, they should give new coach Tim Murphy his first win with the school.
Pick: Unionville 20, Sun Valley 7
