Coatesville’s D, Young brothers, keep playoffs hopes alive
CALN — Coming off the first three-game losing streak in the Matt Ortega era, Coatesville was forced into playoff mode to stay alive for postseason contention.
Against visiting Avon Grove, the Red Raiders got a stellar defensive effort and big production from two-thirds of the Young brother trio to win, 34-7, in Ches-Mont National Division action, Friday.
Coatesville’s starting defense kept Avon Grove out of the end zone, and got on the board itself on a interception return for a touchdown by Kevin Kirk. Jordan Young passed for 209 yards and three scores and ran for 66 and another TD, while freshman Aaron Young had a career-high 179 total yards and a touchdown.
The Red Raiders (2-3 division, 5-3 overall) were No. 24 in the Class AAAA District 1 playoff rankings, and two teams between them and the 16th and final playoff spot lost. Coatesville will need to win its next two and get some help to return to the postseason.
“We’re trying to get on a roll and take it one game at a time,” Ortega said. “It’s still not in our hands, but we’re trying to control what we can control.”
Coatesville started fast, scoring on its first two possessions. Touchdown passes from Jordan Young concluded both drives, the first to Aaron Young and the second to Jadan Hudson. Two more times the Red Raiders were get to the red zone in the first half, but Avon Grove (1-3, 4-4) forced a pair of turnover on downs.
The Red Devils could find no answer, offensively, and after a 67-yard opening drive that ended with a missed field goal, they managed only 36 more yards the rest of the half.
“It’s definitely not something we’re used to,” Ortega said of the three game skid. “We came out and found a way to get it done. We’ve played really good defense the last two weeks. … We got our confidence back last week (against Downingtown East) and Avon Grove basically runs the same thing so that fit us.”
For the third time this year, the Red Devils were held under 100 yards rushing, and not surprisingly they are 0-3 in those games. Avon Grove was a spot behind Coatesville in the playoff rankings, but the loss all but knocks it out of contention.
“(Coatesville) was physically better than us,” Avon Grove coach Harry O’Neill said. “We couldn’t get any push and couldn’t run between the tackles.”
Jordan Young added a two-yard TD run in the third and hit Hudson for a five-yard TD pass in the fourth. Jordan Young has accounted for 23 of Coatesville’s 30 offensive touchdowns this season, while Aaron ran the other seven in.
Kirk added to his resume as one of the best cornerbacks in the area with his fifth interception on the season. Rashaan Alston had two sacks for Coatesville.
The Red Raiders expect to get sophomore Avery Young back in time for Bishop Shanahan next week and then at home against No. 17 West Chester Rustin in the season finale. Both opponents will be playing for their playoff lives as well, so the margin for error will be thin on both sides.
“It’s the same thing this week,” Coatesville senior linebacker Chris Jordan said. “We have to prepare, prepare, prepare and we have to try to have fun. If you’re not playing with attitude and enthusiasm and passion there’s no point in playing.”
If the Red Raiders can finish 7-3, it will need six or so teams just ahead of them to lose. Neshaminy (No. 12), No. 16 Council Rock North, No. 17 Garnet Valley, No. 20 Ridley and No. 22 West Chester East have tough match-ups coming up, but No. 14 Plymouth Whitemarsh and No. 19 Pennridge will be favored the rest of the way.
Coatesville 34, Avon Grove 7
Avon Grove 0 0 0 7 — 7
Coatesville 14 0 6 14 — 34
Scoring
CV- Aa. Young 19 pass from J. Young (J. Young kick)
CV- Hudson 14 pass from J. Young (J. Young kick)
CV- J. Young 2 run (kick blocked)
CV- Hudson 5 pass from J. Young (J. Young kick)
CV- Kirk 56 interception return (J. Young kick)
AG- D. Arhontakis 1 run (Sheehan kick)
TEAM STATISTICS
AG CV
First downs 12 20
Rush – yards 32-78 36-231
Passing yards 96 209
Total yards 174 440
Passing 9-19-1 17-27-1
Punts-Average 4-30.3 1-33
Fumbles-Lost 2-1 1-1
Penalties-Yards 5-55 8-72
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing: AG- Jones 15-58; Francis 6-38; D. Arhontakis 4-(-2), TD; McLaughlin 6-(-15); team 1-(-1). CV- Aa. Young 11-69; J. Young 13-66, TD; Hudson 6-51; Johnson 4-46; Stocker 2-(-1).
Passing: AG- McLaughlin 8-18, 74 yards, INT; Wolford 1-1, 22 yards. CV- J. Young 17-27, 209 yards, 3 TDs, INT.
Receiving: AG- Buchanan 4-36; Francis 2-15; Stella 1-22; N. Arhontakis 1-16; Vahey 1-7. CV- Hudson 9-86, 2 TDs; Aa. Young 5-110, TD; Hammond 1-7; Kirk 1-1.
Sacks: AG- none. CV- Alston 2.
Interceptions: AG- Poole. CV- Kirk
