Downingtown West rolls over Bishop Shanahan, heads into brutal 3-week stretch

DOWNINGTOWN >> Any fears the Downingtown West football team may have had about looking past Bishop Shanahan were quickly dispelled Friday.

The Whippets scored on their first three possessions en route to a 42-7 victory at Kottmeyer Stadium.

West opened up its Ches-Mont League National Division slate and improved to 6-0 overall. The Whippets have scored more than 30 points in every game so far, and have outscored opponents, 245-82. The Eagles lost their third straight to fall to 3-3 and 0-2 in the division.

While job number one is always the victory, the Whippets were also mindful to avoid injuries, whith a key three-game stretch upcoming, beginning with the Battle of the Brandywine against Downingtown East next Friday. Followed by games against West Chester East and Coatesville.

“You always want to stay injury free, but we know we have a great stretch coming up,” said West coach Mike Milano. “We’ll prepare as we always do, one day at a time. The kids have impressed me with how they’ve stayed focused, and I’m sure they will stay that way.”

The Whippets received the ball first, and wasted no time to put points on the scoreboard.

They went 68 yards in only five plays — with two runs from Max Hale and three Will Howard passes. The drive was capped off when Howard hit Sean Pelkisson for a 22-yard score early in the quarter.

Shanahan moved the ball the first time it got it, gaining 36 yards and two first downs, before stalling out.

After a punt, West used a little long-distance thunder to pad the lead. With the ball on its 30, Howard found Julian Williams, who streaked behind the defense, alone for a 70-yard TD connection.

“It was just my guy making a play,” said Howard. “He was open on the post, and I just had to get the ball out there.”

Again, the Eagles picked up a couple of first downs, but nothing much more came from it.

“We moved the ball, but we just didn’t have any points to show for it,” said Shanahan coach Paul Meyers.

A partially blocked punt set the Whippets up at their own 35, and they quickly moved to the Shanahan 14 as the first quarter ended. Three plays later, Tyriq Lewis scooted in from the 6-yard line for a 21-0 lead.

West was held in check on its third possession, but that didn’t hold for long. From the 27, Lewis broke through the left side and cantered in to bump up the lead to 28-0. 

West had another short field after a sack and fumble of Shanahan quarterback Cooper Jordan. From the 15, Hale ran 14 yards to the one, and finished it up on the next play to put the mercy rule in effect for the second half. West finished its end of the scoring as Lewis ran in from the 22 on a screen pass late in the half.

Lewis followed up his six-touchdown performance last week against Oxford with three more on Friday.

Howard’s night was done after halftime. He was a vey efficient 8-12 for 146 yards and three scores.

“When he’s on, he can be spectatctular,” Milano said of Howard.

Both teams had their backups in the second half, the only score from Shanahan as Simmi Whitehill hit Colin McGrory for a 33-yard score.

The extra point proved to be of some significance, as Connor Bailey was true for his 84th career point, breaking a school record for career points by a kicker.

The Eagles had some positives to take home with them as they turn their attention to home matchup with Sun Valley next week.

“They are a very good team,” said Meyers. “But, we kept fighting in the second half and had some good things happen.”