PETE’S PICKS: Coatesville, West Chester Rustin will clinch Ches-Mont titles
Believe it or not, we have arrived at the final week of the high school football regular season.
The district playoffs begin next week, and many area teams will be jockeying for position Friday night. Coatesville will try to wrap up another Ches-Mont League National Division title and a possible No. 1 seed in the Class 6A bracket. West Chester Rustin can take its first Ches-Mont American Division title in four years with a win over Great Valley at home.
Downingtown East at Coatesville
Downingtown East is traveling to Coatesville and the Cougars need a win, or they may end up going on the road for the first round of the district playoffs. And with Coatesville on the schedule, the Cougars’ chances don’t look good.
Downingtown East head coach Mike Matta talked about the powerful Red Raiders.
“They are one of the better teams we have faced in our 16 years at Downingtown East,” Matta said. “They have plenty of talent but none better than No. 1 (quarterback Ricky Ortega). He is the straw that mixes the drink for them. They are a very good team that is well coached. It will be a challenge to try to play with them. We will still play up-tempo and do what we do.”
Ortega has thrown for 1,599 yards so far this season with 26 touchdown throws, and the Red Raider signal-caller should have a field day against the Downingtown East secondary. Throw in the mercurial — and newly minted Michigan State committ — Aaron Young in the backfield, and Downingtown East could be in for a long night. I think the Cougars will try to chew up clock with their inside running game, but that is going to be easier said than done.
Pick: Coatesville 42, Downingtown East 21
Bishop Shanahan 31, Oxford 14
Bishop Shanahan desperately needs a win at Oxford to qualify for the District 1 Class 4A playoffs. The Eagles almost pulled off the upset of the season last week before bowing to Downingtown West, 14-13. Oxford got smoked by Kennett, and the status of quarterback Brett Kochmansky is still up in the air. The Oxford QB did not play in the 45-0 loss to Kennett, and Oxford is not the same team without him.
Bishop Shanahan head coach Paul Meyers talked about preparing for the Hornets.
“I’m still not sure the quarterback is playing so we are preparing as if he will play,” Meyers said. “They can move the ball and their offense has put up some big numbers this season. Their running back is very athletic (Tim Faber). They return a lot of guys on defense and are much better than last year. We need a win to try to get int he playoffs.”
Bishop Shanahan is a desperate team, and with Kochmansky likely not playing, I like the Eagles big here.
Pick: Bishop Shanahan 31, Oxford 14
West Chester Henderson at Avon Grove
West Chester Henderson has not won a game this season, although sophomore lineman Jordan Laudato is one of the better players in the league. Avon Grove should be able to run the football against a Warrior defense that is giving up more than 32 points per game.
Pick: Avon Grove 35, West Chester Henderson 13.
West Chester East at Downingtown West
Downingtown West got its wakeup call in the Whippets’ 14-13 scare against Bishop Shanahan last week. West Chester East can move the football on the ground with Pierre Marchant, but Downingtown West needs this game to maintain a first-round home playoff game and a possible top four seed in the 6A bracket.
Pick: Downingtown West 31, West Chester East 21
Great Valley at West Chester Rustin
Great Valley senior quarterback Jake Prevost has thrown for more than 2,000 yards this season, and at times, the Golden Knights have been hurt by the pass. But with a Ches-Mont American Division championship on the line, the Golden Knights will roll here.
Pick: West Chester Rustin 35, Great Valley 17.
Kennett at Quakertown
Kennett needs a win to get into the Class 5A playoffs and the Blue Demons have only allowed 13 points in the last two games. Kennett needs the win and should be able to get it.
Pick: Kennett 21, Quakertown 14
Springfield (Delco) at Conestoga
The end of another long season for Conestoga as the Pioneers welcome one of the better defensive teams to Teamer Field. The Cougars’ ground game will chew up the Conestoga defense.
Pick: Springfield 28, Conestoga 7
Malvern Prep at Haverford School
Malvern Prep’s march to another Inter-Ac title cleared its toughest hurdle last week in a win over Episcopal Academy. Haverford School is down a little this season, and the Friars, led by possibly the best two-way player in the area in Keith Maguire, should prevail on the road.
Pick: Malvern Prep 35, Haverford School 14
