West Chester East stuns Coatesville in final seconds

West Goshen >> To claim Coatesville’s football team has had West Chester East’s number the past decade would be an understatement. Entering Friday night’s Ches-Mont League National Division contest, the Red Raiders defeated the Vikings eight-straight times by an average margin of 25 points.

In front of a full crowd at Harold I. Zimmerman Stadium, the Vikings broke that streak with one of the most exciting finishes of the 2015 season. With under a minute remaining, East kicker Nick Phillips drilled a 27-yard field goal to give the home team the 31-30 Ches-Mont National Division upset victory.

“I was a little nervous,” Phillips said. “I slipped a little bit but the kick felt good. I just tried to pull through for my team.”

Trailing 30-28 with under four minutes remaining, West Chester East (2-1 National, 3-3 overall) was able to force a three-and-out and retain possession. After driving 37 yards, they faced a 4th-and-4 on the Coatesville 17-yard line. After originally sending the offense out on the game-determining down, East’s coach Dave Gueriera elected to call a timeout and send the field-goal unit out.

“We felt good about kicking it from 17 yards out,” the second-year coach said. “We didn’t get it on fourth down in that area earlier in the game and we had confidence we could kick it from there.”

After coming out of halftime tied 14-14, the final-two stanzas possessed five-lead changes.

“It’s fun being in a game like that,” East’s quarterback Jon Jon Roberts said. “Since I was a kid I pretended like I was the quarterback of a game-winning drive. To do it at home in front of our fans is incredible.”

The senior captain ended the night with 432 passing yards, two  passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns.

Roberts put his team ahead 21-14 midway through the third quarter after he scampered four yards on a quarterback draw.

After Ibrahim Kallie booted a 26-yard field goal for Coatesville (1-2, 4-2), the score was set at 21-17 entering the final frame.

As they’ve done so many times before, Red Raiders’ quarterback Jordan Young, and wide receiver Jaden Hudson made big plays for their team. After Hudson’s receptions of 20 and 18 yards put Coatesville in the red zone, Young put the visitors on top 24-21 when he galloped 13 yards into the end zone.

“I just tried to help the team anyway I could,” Hudson said. “Everyone was out there making plays trying to help the team.”

The junior receiver finished with 11 catches for 175 yards and a touchdown.

Less than a minute later East responded. On their second play of the drive, Roberts connected with wide receiver Jack Wolov on a 72-yard fly route to put the Vikings back up 28-24.

However the Red Raiders returned the favor with a quick score of their own. Once again Young found the end zone, this time from 19-yards out. The senior quarterback finished with two rushing touchdowns, two passing touchdowns, 117 yards on the ground and 225 yards through the air.

“We were able to take some shots on the outside,” Young said. “We were working with some young guys tonight and I thought they did really well tonight.”

It was the play after the score that proved to be the difference maker. East’s special teams unit was able to generate an excellent rush and block Kallie’s extra point attempt that set up for the dramatic ending.

Coatesville will look to snap their two game losing streak next Friday night when they host unbeaten Downingtown East.

“It’s going to take a lot of work to get to where we want to be,” Young said. “But if you look at 2012, that team lost two-straight games to Downingtown East and Malvern Prep and ended up in the state championship game. That’s who we are trying to model ourselves after. We just need to keep working hard and keep fighting from here on out.”

As for West Chester East, the road doesn’t become any easier. They’ll go on the road next Fridaynight and face undefeated Downingtown West.

“We enjoy this win for a little bit but we refocus this week in practice,” Roberts said. “This is a big confidence booster but now we have to get ready for (Downingtown) West.”

WCE – Roberts 11 run (Phillips kick)

C – Norman 4 pass from J. Young

C – Hudson 10 pass from J. Young (Kallie kick)

WCE – Hirsch 83 pass from Roberts (Phillips kick)

WCE – Roberts 4 run (Phillips kick)

C – Kallie 26 kick

C – Young 13 run (Kallie kick)

WCE – Wolov 78 pass from Roberts (Phillips kick)

C – Young 19 run (kick block)

WCE – Phillips 27 kick

Coatesville                 W.C. East

First downs 15                    19

Rushes-yards 34-172     22-89

Passing 17-30-0         29-51-3

Passing yards 225          432

Total yards 397              521

Punts 5-42.6              2-39.5

Fumbles-lost 1-0           2-0

Penalties-yards 4-45      7-45

Rushing — Coatesville: J. Young 14-117, 2TD,  Hudson 1-13, Aa. Young 19-42. W.C. East: Roberts 9-33, TD, Cooper 12-54, Creekmur 1-2.

Passing — Coatesville: J. Young 17-30-0, 225yds, 2TD. W.C. East: Roberts 29-51–3, 432yds., 2TD.

Receiving — Coatesville: Hudson 11-175, TD,  Hammond 2-23, Aa. Young 2-7, Norman 1-4, TD, Chesnut 1-16. W.C. East: Bernhardy 3-21, Carroll 8-119, Wolov 2-88, TD, Hirsch 9-127, TD, Cooper 6-58, Wahn 2-36, Murrey 1-5.

Interceptions — Coatesville: Aa. Young 2, Perry. W.C. East: none.

Sacks — Coatesville: Lentz. W.C. East: none.