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Downingtown West opens with impressive victory over Garnet Valley @Whippetfootball @GarnetValleyFB

Tagged under: District 1, Gameday Hub, News

| August 25, 2019


EXTON: Saturday night’s night match up at Kottmeyer Stadium was one of the most anticipated matchups to open the season. Last season both the Garnet Valley Jaguars and Downingtown Whippets both reached the semifinals of the District 1 6A playoffs.Expectations for both teams are high entering this season and despite missing several key starters including lineman Pat Cusack the Whippets were able to walk away with a convincing 42-19 victory in the first ever meeting between the perennial powers. This game is the type of game that will help both teams come playoff time. “We both knew this game would help us down the stretch.” Whippet coach Mike Milano said after the game

One of the reasons for the high expectations for the Whippets is that they return QB Will Howard returning. The Kansas State recruit was returning to game action for the first time since last October when he went down with an injury. Against the Jaguars Howard completed 9 of 18 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns both to Georgia Southern recruit Sean Pelkisson. Howard also added a rushing touchdown. “Will’s a special kid.” Milano said of his signal caller. “He makes my life so much easier, he’ll hit me wide open.” Pelkisson added about Howard.

The Jaguars would draw first blood when Jake Morin would power his way in from two yards out that came the Jaguars recovered a fumble at the Whippet two-yard line. Dylan Hogan pinned the Whippets inside their two-yard line with a 37-yard punt.

The Whippets would respond converting on a Fourth and One from their own 39 when Tyiq Lewis would break through the Jaguar defense and race his way for the 61-yard touchdown. Lewis would finish the game with 100 yards on 12 carries. Afterwards Lewis gave credit to his blockers saying “My team just does a great job around me blocking, I couldn’t ask for better blockers in front of me.”

Pelkisson would give the Whippets the lead with a 22-yard run. Then Howard-Pelkisson connection would strike with a 5-yard touchdown pass with 4.2 seconds left in the first half that capped a 17 play 84-yard drive that took over 4 minutes off the clock to give the Whippets 21-7 lead heading into intermission.
The Whippets would extend their lead in on their second drive of the second half capitalizing on a Jaguar fumble when Howard connected with Pelkisson for the second time this time from 21 yards out.

The Jaguars would cut into the lead thanks to QB Ryan Gallagher legs the senior accounted for 66 yards on the ground however it was his arm that got them back on the board when he connected with Kevin Craig for the 6-yard score. The extra point snap could not be handled, and the lead was down to 28-13. Any momentum got from the score was short lived has on the ensuing kick-off Julian Williams would race 91-yards for the touchdown that put the game out of reach.

Howard added 1-yard sneak to cap the scoring for the Whippets, while Sam Morin (Jake’s younger brother) would power one in from 4-yards out with five seconds left in the game for the Jaguars.
The Jaguars will look to rebound from this when they begin the defenses of their Central League title on Friday when they host fellow league power Haverford.

The Whippets will travel to Central Bucks South for another showdown scheduled for Friday night

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