Bishop Shanahan Uses Big Plays and Stellar Defense to Rout West Chester Henderson

Tagged under: District 1, Gameday Hub, News

Willie McGonigle | September 27, 2025

DOWNINGTOWN: Everyone loves the big highlight reel plays, and the Bishop Shanahan Eagles are no different. While most teams have only one player who can produce such plays, the Eagles seem to have a different player do it every week. Friday night it was Aidan Civitella and Anthony Aquila’s turn, and the duo didn’t disappoint those who packed into Jack Mancini Field for homecoming plenty to cheer about as the Eagles soared over the visiting West Chester Henderson Warriors 49-14.

Civitella set the tone right from beginning field the game’s opening kickoff and racing 89 yards to give the Eagles a 7-0 lead before the first minute was even played. He added an 83-yard one in the second quarter.

“I just have to credit my blockers on the two kick returns,” Civitella said. “They did a great job and I was untouched to the end zone on both of them. It was a real momentum boost to start the game like that.’’

On the ensuing Warriors possession, they managed to drive deep down into the Eagles’ territory before Civitella ended the drive with an interception, one of five turnovers the Eagles forced on the night.

It was another Warrior turnover that set the stage for the Eagles’ next score, following a Nate Bracken hit on Jason Cherup that forced a fumble that Nate McCarthy fell on at the Warrior 32. Four plays later, Aquila found his way into the endzone from 21 yards out, giving the Eagles the 14-0 lead.

The Warriors responded on their ensuing drive, marching 73 yards and cutting the Eagles’ lead to 14-7 when Cherup connected with Ryan Turse for a 13-yard touchdown. But any momentum the Warriors had went out the window on the ensuing kickoff. Civitella struck again with his second kickoff return for a touchdown, this one from 83 yards.

The Eagles extended their lead on their next drive when Aquila connected with Owen McGroroy for a 65-yard touchdown, making it 28-7 Eagles heading into the locker room at the half.

In the second half, the Warriors came out firing on all cylinders, marching right down the field and cutting the lead to 21-14 when Cherup used his legs to make it 28-14 with a 10-yard touchdown. On the ensuing drive, the Warriors forced the Eagles to punt and on their next possession marched right down the field again before the turnover bug struck again as Jason Guerin intercepted Cherup in the endzone, taking momentum away from the Warriors.

For Eagles head coach Paul Meyers, that play changed the game saying, “That play by Jason was huge. If they score right there, it is a 28-21 game, and they have all the momentum. Jason made a great play, but credit the Henderson coaches. They came out ready to play in the third period.”

The Eagles went on to score the next 21 points with Aquila connecting with Civitella for a 47-yard touchdown, then following it up with a pair of touchdown runs from 24 yards out and 1 yard out to put the Eagles up 49-14 to send the homecoming crowd home happy.

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