Stifling defense propels Coatesville over Academy Park in afternoon showcase

SHARON HILL >> On a sun-soaked field without a gust of wind to be found, it was hardly poor playing conditions when Coatesville squared off against Academy Park, Friday.

But a rare 1 pm kickoff without the clamor of a band or the atmosphere of the Friday night lights added its own unique challenge.

The adage of “defense always travels” rang true, while both offenses were as off-schedule as a rare Friday matinee. Academy Park’s defense was good, but Coatesville’s was great, and the Red Raiders shutout the hosting Knights, 35-0, in non-league action.

“Playing at one, we never played a game at that time, so we were a little worried,” Coatesville coach Matt Ortega said. “It’s an odd time and we were in school today, so we were definitely worried about it.”

From the get-go, Coatesville (2-0) eased Ortega’s mind with stifling defense. The Red Raiders held Academy Park to minus-11 total yards at halftime and just 15 for the entire game. The Knights (1-1) finished with minus-29 rush yards on 29 carries and didn’t pick up their first first down until the seven-minute mark in the third quarter.

“I’m not happy with our performance on offense,” said Academy Park coach Jason Voshesky, whose offense scored just six points in a week one win over Unionville. “I don’t know if it’s us, the coaches, or the players or a mixture of the two of us, but we need to get this ship right.”

The Knights’ defense kept them in it, in the first half. Coatesville started with the ball in Academy Park territory three times, including once at the 10, and scored zero points on those drives. 

After a scoreless first quarter, the Raiders finally got on the board when quarterback Harrison Susi kept it himself from 13 yards out. 

An interception by Branden Barthmaier set Coatesville up at the AP 10, but a 23-yard field goal sailed wide.

In the final minute of the second quarter, Susi found Amir Haskett for a 36-yard run and catch to set up a one-yard QB sneak to give Coatesville a 14-0 lead at the break.

“To win a game like this, with some kids banged up, and play a great program like Academy Park, who’s like us at the 5A level, it’s fabulous,” Ortega said.

Academy Park held Coatesville to 140 rush yards on 36 carries and limited Susi, who was 9-of-20 for 134 yards, through the air.

“Our defense played really well,” Voshesky said. “At some point our guys just got tired and worn out.”

In the third, Susi hit Haskett on a fourth-and-five for a nine-yard score, and on Coatesville’s next drive, Susi lofted a 13-yard TD pass to Donte London for his second touchdown in as many games.

“Our growth pattern from that group of guys is going up and up,” Ortega said of the receivers. “They showed they can run vertical and they’re definitely going to put fear in people that they can go the distance.”

Coatesville has scored 63 points its first two games, but has looked far from its explosive self from years past. With many new faces on that side of the ball, that’s to be expected. But the Red Raiders’ starting defense still hasn’t surrendered a point and Pennsbury and Academy Park combined for exactly 200 total yards against them through two weeks.

London also had an interception and Francisco Hall, Josh Miller, Connor Rickabaugh and Brad Lentz, among others, have created a dominant unit, defensively.

“Coming in, we wanted to punch them in the mouth early,” Hall said. “We felt like, after the first quarter, we knew we had it in the bag.”

Coatesville will host Ortega’s alma mater, Central Dauphin, in a big non-league week three matchup.

Coatesville 35, Academy Park 0

Coatesville  0 14 7 14-35

Academy Park   0 0 0 0-0

                                     Scoring

Second Quarter

CV- Susi 13 run (Ashbee kick)

CV- Susi 1 run (Ashbee kick)

Third Quarter

CV- Haskett 9 pass from Susi (Ashbee kick)

Fourth Quarter

CV- London 13 pass from Susi (Ashbee kick)

CV- James 9 run (Ashbee kick)

                                      Team Totals

                         CV       AP

First downs 12     3

Yards rushing 36-140   29-(-29)

Yards passing  134          44

Total yards      274          15

Passing      9-20-0    6-11-2

Fumbles-lost    0-0           3-1

Punts-avg. 2-38     6-28.5

Penalties-yds 8-57     8-83

                                    Individual Statistics

Rushing: Coatesville — Susi 15-62, 2 TDs; Watson, 11-27; James 2-20, TD; Green 4-20; Ferguson 3-16; team 1-(-5). Academy Park — Oliver 10-39; Crawford 2-1; Robinson 2-1; Jabbie 1-1; Billops 1-(-2); Fields 13-(-69).

Passing: Coatesville — Susi 9-20, 134 yards, 2 TDs. Academy Park — Fields 5-10, 35 yards, 2 INTs; Moore 1-1, 9 yards

Receiving: Coatesville — Haskett 5-88, TD; London 2-18, TD; Richardson 1-17; Scott 1-11. Academy Park — Hunter 2-16; Oliver 2-11; Mansaray 1-9; Cavanaugh 1-8.

Interceptions: Coatesville — Barthmaier, London.