DiGIOVANNI: Traditional powers struggle while Henderson surges

The first two weeks of the scholastic football season have been unpredictable to say the least.

If anyone that follows the area gridiron scene would have told me that Sun Valley, Kennett and Octorara would have better records after two weeks than Unionville, West Chester Rustin or Downingtown West, I would have questioned their football knowledge.

But that is where we are after two very crazy weeks of area football.

The three teams mentioned — Unionville, Rustin and Downingtown West — are all 0-2 and those teams’ tough nonleague schedules have been a part of their rough starts. But that is not the only thing that has these teams winless.

In the case of Rustin, the Golden Knights’ bread and butter running game has seemingly abandoned them. With a veteran offensive line and talented backs in Ty Pringle and Brandon Frazier, one would think it would be business as usual for Golden Knights. But in two losses to Garnet Valley and West Chester Henderson, the run game has been close to non existent. The one thing that Rustin head coach Mike St. Clair can hang his hat on is that the Golden Knights are still playing very tough defense, allowing Henderson just 13 points and basically giving Garnet Valley 10 points off turnovers in a 23-16 opening week loss.

In Unionville’s case, the Indians are just not scoring points. In a loss to 6A power Spring-Ford, the Indians could only muster three points. And the Unionville offense did not do much in their 22-18 loss to Academy Park in Week 2. The Knights shot themselves in the foot a few times, giving Unionville some points off a short field. Now, Unionville must travel to Avon Grove to meet the fired up — and 2-0 — Red Devils, who are really believing in themselves.

Two early must-wins for both Rustin — this week against West Chester East — and Unionville at Avon Grove.

As puzzling as Rustin and Unionville have been, I am shocked Downingtown West is off to an 0-2 start. I know Perkiomen Valley has a big-time quarterback and has been a playoff team for the last three years, and Wayne Valley is a quality team, but the Whippets are just giving up too many points. In West’s two losses, the defense has allowed 76 points, and that is not going to get it done, even if your offense is as high powered as West has shown. Now, Neshaminy, one of the District 1 Class 6A favorites, visits this week, presnting a tough task for a team that can’t afford to fall to 0-3. With the Ches-Mont National slate looming, Downigtown West will be close to finished with an 0-3 record.

On the whole, the Ches-Mont League has not fared well out of league in the first two weeks. Downingtown East loses to district favorite North Penn in a hard-fought game. The Whippets lose both nonleague games. Rustin falls to Garnet Valley. Unionville gets smoked by Spring-Ford and Coatesville gets blown out by Cumberland Valley.

These are all tough teams and tough losses, but if the league wants to talk about respect, it must be earned on the field, not in any publication or someone’s twitter page.

So, where is the good news coming out of the area?

How about the explosive Great Valley Patriots and quarterback Robert Geiss, who is playing better than any other area signal-caller not named Nick Skulski. With skill players galore and head coach Dan Ellis at the helm, the Patriots are going to give Rustin and Unionville all they can handle this season.

So far this season, Bishop Shanahan has looked very impressive in two blowout wins over George Washington and Glen Mills. The Eagles may knock off one of the traditional Ches-Mont National big boys this season.

But, to me, West Chester Henderson is the biggest surprise and most impressive team so far this season.

After gutting out a come-from-behind win over Oxford, the Warriors were maybe the only ones who thought they had a chance to defeat Rustin last Thursday. Then, they went out and held the Knights to just six points and sent their neighbors home reeling.

The Warriors have always been a proud team that plays its heart out, and after getting kicked around on their way to a 1-9 mark last season, the Warriors clearly have had enough.

Pride in your self, your school and your team. Henderson has shown all that and more in the season’s first two weeks.

Peter DiGiovanni covers high school football for Digital First Media. You can reach him at pdgiovanni07@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeteDLN.