Downingtown East stays unbeaten with rout of Avon Grove

WEST GROVE—Downingtown East could be the quietest 6-0 team in District 1. The Cougars might not be flush with the star power of years past, but make no mistake—they can still beat you in a bunch of different ways.

Friday night at Avon Grove, the Cougar defense came up with turnovers and stopped drives short to give the offense good field position. Spencer Uggla and Stanley Bryant churned out the yardage on the ground. Quarterback Drew Person threw touchdown passes on half his completions. And the game was all over but the shouting by halftime as Downingtown East (6-0, 2-0) cruised to a 42-3 victory over the Red Devils (1-5, 1-1).

“We didn’t let down or look past these guys and just came out and played the way we know how,” said East coach Mike Matta. “There were a few penalties and some things we can clean up, but I’m happy with the way these guys came out and played right from the opening snap.”

After forcing a three-and-out on the Red Devils’ first possession, the Cougars took over with great field position at the Avon Grove 40. Four plays later, Stanley Bryant (6 carries, 69 yards, 2TD) carried one in from 14 yards out.

Bryant then showed what he can do defensively, when, in the process of sacking Avon Grove quarterback JT McDonald, stripped the ball loose to give the Cougars first and ten at the Devils’ 28.

Person made sure the opportunity was not wasted, hitting Uggla on a shot pass over the middle, then Uggla did the rest, cutting back to the outside to cover the 28 yards and a 13-0 East lead before five minutes had even ticked off the clock.

“This is just a great group of kids this season,” said Matta. “They are a great group of kids that like each other and like being around each other, and it shows in the way they are playing as a unit.”

Uggla’s catch and run was the first of three straight scores through the air. Next came a 40-yarder from Person to Luke Connolly (6 catches, 83 yards, 2TD), followed by a five-yard Person to Connor Noble connection, and it was 28-0 with time still remaining in the first period. Person finished the night with 116 yards on 8 of 11 passing, with four TDs.

“We came into this game just wanting to play Downingtown East football, and not worry about who was lining up across from us,” said Person. “I think our whole offense is running like a well-oiled machine. Our passing is on, we’re running the ball well, and our o-line has been outstanding. I barely got touched tonight.”

The Red Devils lone score came just before the end of the first period, when Bobby Smith hit a 38-yard field goal right down the middle and with enough leg it would’ve been good from 50-plus. But another couple of scores from East—Person to Connolly for 4 yards, and another 14 yard scamper from Bryant, and the game went to the break in Mercy Rule territory. Both teams put out their second teams in the second half.

Up next for the Cougars is the game circled in red every year on the calendar—the crosstown rivalry match-up with Downingtown West, also unbeaten on the season.

“West has played a really good schedule and has played well,” said Matta. “We’re excited to see how we match up with them.”

Downingtown East 42 Avon Grove 3

DTown East 28 14 0 0— 42
Avon Grove 3 0 0 0 –3

First Quarter

DE—Bryant 14-run (Mindek kick) 7-0
DE—Uggla 28-pass from Person pass fail. 13-0
DE–Connolly 40 pass from Person (Assante run) 21-0
DE—Noble 5 pass from Person (Mindek kick) 28-0
AG—Smith 38 yard FG 28-3

Second Quarter

DE—Connolly 4 pass from Person (Mindek kick) 35-3
DE—Bryant 14-run (Mindek kick) 42-3

team statistics

DE-AG

First downs 13 9

Rushes-yards 32-193 23-109

Passing 8-11 3-7

Passing yards 116 24

Total yards 309 133

Punts 3-38.6 3-24.3

Fumbles-lost 2-0 3-2

Penalties-yards 4-40 3-30

Individual statistics

Rushing—DE Bryant 6-69 2TD, Uggla 9-62, Assante 2-17, Diehl 9-35, Cogliati 1-6, Person 1-(-7), Stevenson 4-11 AG Riddell 5-41, Glatts 5-27, McDonald 4-21, Kirby 1-7, Traa 2-2, Lopez 1-2, Bond 4-8, Lorusso 1-1

Passing —DE Person 8-11, 116 yards, 4TD AG—McDonald 3-7, 24 yards

Receiving —DE Connolly 6-83 2TD, Uggla 1-28 TD, Noble 1-5 TD AG Hershey 1-18 Glatts 1-6

Interceptions. NONE

Sacks: DE Grubb, Gripton, Noble