PETE’S PICKS: Unionville, Coatesville should stay on track for division titles

Week 8 is upon us and two teams have clear paths to divsion titles in the Ches-Mont League. If both Unionville and Coatesville win out, each will take home the division title. Unionville will visit Kennett, while Coatesville ventures to Avon Grove. And, Downingtown East will try to rebound from a 40-7 drubbing against Coatesville with an interesting trip to Bishop Shanahan.

Friday’s games
Unionville at Kennett
Unionville has a tough date with a revived Kennett team. Indians head coach Pat Clark is very wary of the Blue Demons and knows his team is in for a struggle.
“Kennett is a very legitimate team,” Clark said. “They are very solid up front. Offensively, they are solid and they move [Myles] Robinson around. They put him in the slot and they do a good job with him. Their quarterback (Jake Dilcher) extends plays very well and is very capable of beating you.
“They run a 4-3 defense and they bring a whole lot of pressure on the quarterback. We are going to have to move the ball and we have had trouble scoring points, so we are going to have to be very efficent with the football.”
Unionville will be tough to deny with a league title in its sights, although Kennett is a vastly improved team from last year.
The Pick: Unionville 24, Kennett 14

Downingtown East at Bishop Shanahan
East was embarrassed by Coatesville last week, 40-7, and the Eagles held on for a 42-35 win over Oxford. The Cougars now have to worry about playoff position, and hope that the Red Raiders stumble in one of their next two games. Shanahan head coach Paul Meyers talked about what it is going to be like to play an angry bunch of Cougars.
“We are getting D-East at a bad time,” Meyers said. “In the Ches-Mont when a team loses they come back playing harder the next week. I believe they will come out to prove they are still as good a team as they have been.
“They are big and fast up front and [Bryce] Lauletta is playing well at quarterback. He does a great job with play action and defensively they really don’t give up a lot.
Downingtown East just seems to have too much defense for the Eagles, although they did not show that against Coatesville. Look for a rebound by the Cougars if they can get pressure on Nick Skulski.
The Pick: Downingtown East 24, Bishop Shanahan 13

Coatesville at Avon Grove
Last week the Red Raiders piled up 468 total yards on the Downingtown East defense. Avon Grove has had trouble scoring points and the Coatesville defense is very underrated. If Coatesville plays anywhere near the way it did against Downingtown East last week, this will be over in a hurry.
The Pick: Coatesville 42, Avon Grove 7

Downingtown West at W.C. Henderson
Downingtown West edged West Chester East, 30-29, last week by getting two touchdowns from special teams and a touchdown pass from Kyle Geiser with less than one second to play. Henderson is not that explosive offensively, but the Warriors will try to control the clock with their running game and keep the ball out of Geiser’s hands.
The Pick: W.C. Henderson 21, Downingtown West 20

West Chester East at Sun Valley
East played very well the last two weeks but have not been able to get a win. Sun Valley is averaging over 30 points per game, but the Vikings defense is going to put up a challenge to the Vanguards.
The Pick: W.C. East 21, Sun Valley 17

Octorara at W.C. Rustin
Octorara was drubbed, 51-6, by Sun Valley last week and the undermanned Braves are beset by injuries. Rustin escaped a scare from Kennett, 30-29, but this should not be as close. Brandon Frazier should have a big night rushing for the Golden Knights.
The Pick: W.C. Rustin 42, Octorara 13

Radnor at Conestoga
Conestoga showed some life in defeating Lower Merion 34-18 last week. Just like the Pioneers, Radnor has struggled to score points this season, so look for a low scoring affair.
The Pick: Conestoga 14, Radnor 13

Episcopal Academy at Malvern Prep
Both teams begin Inter-Academic League play and both are coming off bye weeks. Episcopal is getting good quarterback play from C.J. McAnally and the Churchmen will be a tough foe for the host Friars.
The Pick: Malvern Prep 28, Episcopal Academy 21

Saturday’s game
Oxford at Great Valley
Great Valley has lost two in a row and in both games the Patriots had drives stall inside the opponent’s 10-yard line with under one minute to play. Oxford has been giving up more than 30 points per game and lost last week to Shanahan, 42-35. Tim Davis is a threat for the Hornets.
The Pick: Great Valley 42, Oxford 28