St Joes Prep Hawks soar past Downingtown West 36-7 into State Title Game

Tagged under: District 1, District 12, Gameday Hub, News, Playoffs

Anthony Franklin | November 30, 2024

While the weather was frigid and at times windy the St. Joes Prep football team were hot and ready to roll. The Hawks would receive the open on kick and would march downfield to score the opening points of the game on a 44 yard forward pass from Charlie Foulke to Sr. Jamir Rowe to give Prep an early 7-0 lead with 10:51 left in the 1st quarter. Downingtown would initially gain a first down on their first possession before Prep would force a punt. The hawks on their second possession marched downfield but the Whippet defense led by sophomore defensive back Brendon Kimble and senior DB Tommy Miller thwarted the Hawks forcing them to kick a field goal and Prep held an 10-0 lead with 4:49 left in the first quarter on the legs of Leo Ricci 27 yard field goal. West would gain offensive traction notching two consecutive first downs but stalled prior to getting to mid field and was forced to punt the ball back to Prep with 2:50 left in the 1st quarter. Prep would methodically drive the length of the field and Khyan Billups would punch it in from the one yard line to extend the lead to 17-0 with 9:42 left in the first half. A muffed snap would give the Hawks the ball deep in Whippet territory where they’d capitalize and extend the lead to 24-0 on the second score of the day from Khyan. The Whippets would once again fumble the ball in their own territory and Prep once gain capitalized on the turnover with a 7 yard touchdown reception from Rameir Hardy (Temple) to extend the lead to 30-0 as the first half concluded.

The second half would be played under a running clock as Charlie Foulke found Jett Harrison in the corner of the endzone for a touchdown pass to extend the lead to 36-0 with 8:25 left in the 3rd quarter. Downingtown West would make a few plays on defense in the 2nd half and avoided the shutout when they found the endzone on a Cole Bricker 48 yard TD pass to Darian Smith as time expired in the 3rd quarter. That play was the first time all game West crossed midfield. The Prep defense would hold strong in the 4th quarter to keep the running clock in tact preserving the final of 36-6.

So. QB Charlie Foulke concluded the night 17-31 for 195 yards & 3 touchdowns. Jamir caught 3 passes for 78 yards and a touchdown, Khyan rushed for 101 yards on 23 carries for 2 touchdowns. Freshman WR Jett Harrison notched 3 receptions for 37 yards and a score for the Hawks. Up next is a road trip to Cumberland Valley HS where SJP looks to 3-peat as state champions and will make their 9th consecutive state title game appearance.

West concludes a great season with a 13-2 record including winning the District 1 title. They will be a force to be reckoned with as junior QB Cole Bricker returns as well as stud DB Brendon Kimble who recorded a handful of pass break ups.

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