Football: Chester clinches Del Val title, top seed in District 1 Class 5A tournament

SHARON HILL — Chester’s resounding 22-0 victory over Academy Park Saturday checked off two important boxes.

The Clippers (9-1, 4-0) captured the Del Val League championship outright for a second year a row. More importantly, they clinched the No. 1 seed in the District 1 Class 5A tournament, which begins next week. Coach Dennis Shaw’s squad has home field advantage through the semifinal round.

The Clippers have won nine consecutive games since a season-opening, 31-0 setback to Perkiomen Valley, a Class 6A power. Chester’s statement win came two weeks ago when previously undefeated Downingtown West (8-2) visited the Chester Athletic Complex and left with a 28-19 loss. Saturday’s rout of Academy Park marked the fourth time this season the Clippers have shut out the opposition.

“We are predicated on our defense, so we take a lot of pride in … putting up shutouts and forcing teams to have to go the length of the field to score,” coach Dennis Shaw said. “There’s going to be times when the offense is not (clicking), but our defense has to be and that’s what we hang our hats on.”

Indeed, the Clippers were shaky on offense in the first half as the Knights (2-6) found a way to keep super sophomore quarterback Jalen Harris and 1,000-yard senior running back Dayshon Jackson at bay. Chester’s lone TD in the first two quarters came on a reverse to Shamar Williams, who raced 48 yards to the end zone.

But Chester’s defensive front suffocated the Knights all game. Senior linebacker Emohj Barrett had an interception of quarterback Kareem Moore and tackled Daniel Gbeaday in the end zone for a safety in the second quarter. Sophomore linebacker Jerell Palmer, who began the day with a team-high 108 tackles, and big tackle Wykee Riggins thrived all game as AP was limited to 70 yards of offense, eight via the run.

Barrett was the show stealer. In addition to his lockdown effort on defense, the wide receiver caught a 40-yard scoring pass from Harris early in the fourth quarter.

“I was thinking about the ball the whole time, like, I cannot drop this,” Barrett said. He is one of several Chester players to take a huge growth leap this fall.

“I have been very impressed with Emojh,” Shaw said. “He’s a three-year guy with us, but he’s a guy who has waited his turn. He was a JV guy last year and a backup on varsity because we were loaded. But he’s coming into his role offensively and defensively, and he’s just been tremendous for us.”

Whereas last season they were a pass-first team, as Harris passed for more than 30 touchdowns and 2,000 yards in his rookie year, the Clippers are all about ground-and-pound in 2023. They have one of the biggest offensive lines in Delco, which on Saturday consisted of center Damon Moore (5-8, 235 pounds), Jailynd Johnson (6-0, 270), Jerry Young (6-5, 265), Zane Tillery (5-10) and Shemaji Henry (6-5, 380). Jackson, who rushed for 97 yards Saturday, became the first Chester player since Shaheer McBride to eclipse 1,000 yards in a season.

“It’s tough, but (run blocking) is something we work on in practice a lot,” Moore said. “We just want to come out and dominate.”

That’s been the theme of the Clippers’ season as they turn their sights to Upper Moreland next week and the District 1 Class 5A tourney.

“We’d rather play a playoff game in Exit 6 than anywhere else,” Shaw said. “That’s what we’ve been preaching to the kids – securing the No. 1 seed – because then someone not only has to beat you but they have to come in your house and beat you, which not too many teams have done over the last few years.”