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Red Raiders edge out Whippets in a 31-28 comeback win @football_cville @footballdwest @thehistoryDtown

Tagged under: District 1, Gameday Hub, News

| October 9, 2021

In sports, fans all love a good rivalry game. Whether it be between a favorite team, Alma mater or personal preference, Downingtown West and Coatesville played a game that will be remembered for some time.

Coming into the game, Coatesville was the clear cut favorite to win, after blowing out Oxford 50-20 last Friday to improve to 6-1 on the season. Whereas, Downingtown West were coming off of a tough 14-3 loss to Kennett.

The Red Raiders marched down from their own 11-yard line to set up a 2-yard TD run from Harrison Susi, which was the only score in the first half. Susi was running all over the Whippets defense totaling over 150 yards on the ground.

Downingtown received the 2nd half kickoff and did not waste any time putting points on the board with a John Mulville 87-yard KR touchdown. He had two scores on the night.

Coatesville had plenty of chances to run up the score, but dropped passes and penalties gave West all the juice they needed to have a chance at winning the game.

“We kind of knew that’s what let them back in the game and we had the miscues on the personnel’s getting in and out, but at the end of the day we found a way to make it happen and we are going to correct those things moving forward,” said Coatesville head coach Matt Ortega.

Another one of Mulville’s Td’s extended the Whippets lead to three.  The Whippets then forced a three and out and eventually converted a 4th and 5 off of a low snap to set up the Evan Wickersham score which put them up 28-18 with 4:43 left.

Whippets were playing a soft coverage with their defensive backs and the Red Raiders took what they gave them by converting short routes in space to get closer to the red zone.  A face mask penalty was called on Downingtown and moved the chains just outside the 10-yard line. Thus, setting a TD reception from Tommy Ortega with 3:03 left in the game.

West obtains great field position after recovering an onside kick from the Red Raiders and placed on the Whippets 45.  West tried running an option pitch play and was immediately sniffed out for a tackle for loss by Amir Haskett.  This lead to a three and out and lit a fire on the Coatesville sideline.

Coatesville moved the ball efficiently and then was upheld with big time sack from Drew Florkowski with 35.8 left in the game, but the Red Raiders converted at 3rd and 20.

There were seven lead changes tonight. Coatesville’s Susi connected with James Taylor in the back corner end zone for the go-ahead touchdown to give the Red Raiders the win with 13.5 seconds left in the game.

“Here we have a guy who is not a starter on offense make the biggest play of the year and again he worked his tail off and trusted the process and I’m just sow proud of our football team,” said Ortega

“At that point, in the situation of the game, it is all about heart and all you can do is trust in each other, this team right here, in years past, we’ve had explosive players but this team is about doing it together,” said Ortega.

The Whippets fought hard and gave Coatesville a run for their money. 

“We battled, they made at play the end and it’s tough when you put that amount of effort into something and it doesn’t work out, that’s a hard pill to swallow,” said Whippet head coach Michael Milano.

“I don’t know who we are, we’ve been so up and down, I think if we played like we did tonight we would have a pretty good identity and what I takeaway is that we are able to play together, stay together, and play at a high level.  We haven’t been able to do that consistently,” said Milano.

Coatesville improves to 6-1 and faces the undefeated Chester Clippers next Saturday at 11 AM.  Downingtown West falls to 3-4 and searching to get in the win column against Bishop Shanahan next Friday after losing two straight.

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews

 
 
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