State College Takes on Downingtown East in Big 6A Matchup

Tagged under: District 1, District 6, Gameday Hub, News

Todd Ross | August 31, 2023

Both teams enter this game with a 1-0 record and look to be some of the top teams in 6A this season. Downingtown is coming off of a 43-0 shutout against Pennridge and State College won 49-20 at Williamsport.

These teams have faced off against each other for the past two years; in 2021 the Cougars came to Memorial Field and doubled up the Little Lions 42-21. Last season State College snuck away with a 32-31 win thanks to a last second two-point conversion.

Both teams possess a strong running game with Downingtown rushing for 374 yards as a team and State College’s D’Antae Sheffey running for 5 touchdowns and 110 yards and Travis Bechtel rushing for 51 yards.

The Cougars offensive line is one of the best in the state and returns 6 players from last season who look to make room for their backs Friday night. They are led by Pitt commit Adham Abouraya who is joined by Luke Fowler, Ryan Konchek, Ryan Moses, Cody Zarelli, and Emerson Baker. Ayden Harris and Owen Lammy benefited from the strong line play rushing for a combined 237 yards and 4 TDs. You also have to mention a defense that only allowed 1 first down last game which was a penalty. The Cougars also didn’t allow Pennridge to cross the 50 yard line.

State College went to Williamsport and their defense looked very strong as they got in the backfield quite effectively and forced pressure well. Returning starters Justin Castro Dixon and Sam Mayer, along with juniors Nathan Haas and Thomas Keller, were very effective at getting into the back field. The strong defensive effort also included help from their linebackers as they look to stop a strong line and run game from Downingtown. Offensively State College had a strong attack on the ground and through the air with D’Antae Sheffey running well and Ty Salezer and Eddie Corkery working well together in the passing game.

One more piece of excitement is that Memorial Field was recently renovated and new turf was installed along with a video board; so will State College claim the first win on the new turf or will the Cougars rain on their parade claiming the first W on it?

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