Big second half propels Coatesville over Bishop Shanahan

DOWNINGTOWN >> The Coatesville football team has had a rough two weeks. With head coach Matt Ortega still on administrative leave, and last week’s big game with Downingtown West cancelled due to online threats, it was natural to think the Red Raiders might be rusty Friday night against Ches-Mont National Division foe Bishop Shanahan at Jack Mancini Field.

Coatesville led the upset-minded Eagles by just two touchdowns at halftime but the Red Raiders found their stride in the second half and pulled away from Shanahan to take a 52-20 Ches-Mont National Division game.

“I don’t think the offense was rusty because we had two weeks of practice,” Coatesville quarterback Harrison Susi said. “We really wanted to play the game last week and then we got cancelled. And tonight, losing (Dante London) early hurt us. And we really need Coach Ortega back, and we hope he is back next week.

“We got things going in the second half. And we could not play West, so next week we get to go to Downingtown and play D East, so we are looking forward to that.”

Coatesville (1-0 Ches-Mont, 7-0 overall) looked like they were going to blow the Eagles off the field as Susi rambled 33 yards to score on the game’s third play. After an interception of a Zack Ferraro pass, Spencer Ferguson went 12 yards around the right side for an early 14-0 Coatesville lead.

But the Eagles (0-3, 3-4) came right back on a pretty 22-yard touchdown pass from Ferraro to Aidan Civitella to make it a 14-7 after one period. Ferraro completed17 of 37 passes for 228 yards with two interceptions, but the Eagles could not run the ball at all on the Red Raiders’ defense as they managed minus-10 yards rushing for the game.

Coatesville got a big game from linebacker Matt Luton who sacked Ferraro three times and had seven tackles on the night. The Eagles were forced to pass because the Red Raiders’ defense was given nothing up on the ground.

Coatesville took a 21-7 lead when Susi hit Amir Haskett with a 49-yard touchdown pass and again, it looked like the Eagles were going to get overrun. But Bishop Shanahan came right back and Ferraro hit Mac Civitella with a 14-yard touchdown pass for a 21-14 Coatesville lead midway through the second period.

Coatesville fielded a punt with just under two minutes to go in the first half and three plays later, Susi scored on a 10-yard keeper, and at halftime it was a 27-14 Red Raiders lead after a missed extra point. Coatesville had to go for two points because of two penalties on the Red Raiders after Susi scored that moved the ball back to the 35 yard line.

“We were little rusty early because it has been a tough two weeks,” Luton said. “We really miss our head coach. He is our defensive coach and the leader of the team and we need him back. But we put things together in the second half and now we get ready for Downingtown East and we hope coach is back for that game.”

Coatesville kicked off to the Eagles to start the second half and the Red Raiders sacked Ferraro to force a punt. Coatesville went back to the running game with Susi and Spencer Ferguson the two main focuses. Susi then tucked the ball down and went 73 yards to score down the right sideline to make it 34-14 early in the third period.

After forcing another Bishop Shanahan punt, the Red Raiders ground game moved the ball down the field with Ferguson — who had 66 yards on just four carries — going the final nine yards and the Red Raiders had breathing room at 41-14.

With the big lead, the Red Raiders defense was really harassing Ferraro on every pass attempt. Coatesville recorded five sacks and countless hurries on the game. Susi then hit Haskett for a 23-yard touchdown pass and after the successful two point conversion the game was into the mercy rule at 49-14. That’s when interim head coach Damien Henry emptied his bench.

“We were a little rusty in the first half but the kids persevered in the second half and came through,” Henry said. “This game was for Coach Ortega. We are a family and one of us is missing. We really got things going after halftime and I was proud of their effort.”

For the Eagles, the game could be costly as two Eagles running backs left the game with injuries in the second half.

“I could not ask for anymore from these kids,” Meyers said. “They gave me everything they had tonight. And the injuries forced us to throw and throw, and I thought the effort was tremendous.”

Coatesville 52, Bishop Shanahan 20

Coatesville              14 13 22 3 — 52

Bishop Shanahan    6 8 0 6 — 20

Scoring

C — Susi 33 run (Ashbee kick)

C — Ferguson 12 run (Ashbee kick)

BS — A.Civitella 22 pass from Ferraro (kick failed)

Second Period

C — Haskett 49 pass from Susi (Ashbee kick)

BS — M.Civitella 14 pass from Ferraro (Olivo pass from Ferraro)

C — Susi 10 run (pass failed)

Third Period

C — Susi 73 run (Ashbee kick)

C — Ferguson 9 run (Ashbee kick)

C — Haskett 23 pass from Susi (Watson run)

Fourth Period

C — Ashbee 35 FG

BS — Ferraro 1 run (pass failed)

Team Totals

C            BS

First downs       19           12

Yards rushing    320          (-10)

Yards passing   100          228

Total yards        420          218

Passing         11-17-0          17-37-2

Fumbles-lost     0-0            0-0

Punts-avg       4-26.5        5-27.0

Penalties-yds    11-115      4-18.

Individual Statistics

Rushing — C: Susi 6-162, 3TD’s; London 1 (-3); Green 7-40; Watson 8-38; James 1-6; Ferguson 4-66, 2TD’s; Brown 1-6; Haskett 1-5. BS:  Kobus 2-12; Gallagher 3 (-13); Ferraro 8-0, TD; N.Bracken 5 (-9).

Passing — C: Susi 11-17-100, 2TD’s. BS: Ferraro 17-37-228, 2TD’s.

Receiving — C: Haskett 7-114, 2TD’s; Van orden 3-35; Ellis 1-9. BS: Phillis 1 (-2); Olivo 3-39; N.Bracken 2-12; Barbadora 2-6; A.Civitella 6-110, TD; M.Civitella 3-63, TD.

Interceptions — C: Ferguson, Richardson.

Sacks – C: Luton 3, Lynch, Miller.